A group of community nurses say they are not adequately
represented at the Southern District Health Board, and are
pushing for change.
The initiative, branded Southern Rebirth, requests the DHB
set up an executive-level position administering community
health nurses. At present, they are under the purview of the
regional chief nursing and midwifery officer.
Otago Polytechnic School of Nursing principal lecturer Jean
Ross, who has helped organise the group, said after the 2010
district health board and primary health organisation
mergers, the South was a huge health entity, where too little
was known about how community nurses fared.
"We have identified major gaps in the leadership,
communication, and networking of public health care nurses
within this large geographical region, and we feel these
issues need to be promptly addressed by the Southern DHB," Ms
Ross said.
A working party has been established to work up a proposal
for the DHB.
As well as seeking a community nursing director, the group
wants to see improved communication channels for community
nurses.
Asked for comment, acting chief nursing and midwifery officer
Tina Gilbertson said through a spokeswoman that the DHB would
consider the proposal at the appropriate time.
eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.