A board meeting yesterday had a wide-ranging discussion on nursing numbers, in response to an independent consultant’s report which found it was placing patients at risk of harm due to a shortage of nurses on its wards.
Consultant Jane Lawless examined three wards, one in Dunedin and two at Southland Hospital, and reported that there were too many instances of a poor match between service demand and nursing resources.
SDHB chief nursing and midwifery officer Jane Wilson said Ms Lawless’ findings were not new, and that southern hospitals had run under-resourced shifts in several wards for a protracted time.
‘‘We don’t have enough nurses in our pool and those who are in pool are working extra shifts, and over a length of time that affects wellbeing and high staff turnover rates.
‘‘We have got more patients we are seeing who are confused and vulnerable and need someone right beside them, more healthcare assistants are needed to provide that one-on-one care to prevent harm.’’
SDHB corporate services executive director Nigel Trainor said that next year’s budget had accounted for extra nurses to be hired.
‘‘That should show a dividend once those people start but the problem is finding the nurses, which is complex in itself because the borders are closed.’’
Chief executive Chris Fleming said all DHBs were having the same issues recruiting nursing staff and all had to meet the requirements of the care capacity demand management (CCDM) programme, a nationally agreed safe-staffing regime.
‘‘We are also in a very difficult industrial time at the moment, there is another nurses strike coming up, and fundamentally the biggest problem facing settlement right now is the nurse’s confidence that we can achieve CCDM .’’
The SDHB has hired about 50 more nurses in recent months but it has also had several resignations in that time.
Nursing staffing levels were about 2.5% up but several more needed to be hired to meet targets, the board was told.
Ms Wilson said a year ago the SDHB was ahead of most boards in complying with CCDM, but was now about the middle of the pack.
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‘‘but the problem is finding the nurses, which is complex in itself because the borders are closed.’’
Dear SDHB corporate services executive director Nigel Trainor,
May I suggest looking within the city.
https://www.op.ac.nz/study/nursing/
I realise there are specialist roles and would suggest offering paths for professional development to fill these positions.
Looking to other communities for the resources we need but have not nurtured, worked for the Vikings but surely we are beyond that way of thinking now days.
If our nursing students don't see the SDHB as a suitable employer, then there is another issues that need addressing.
Now you no longer need to be looking overseas for nurses, maybe some time spent on those issues would benefit the constituents of the SDHB as well.
What's all the fuss about ... ??
There's a report that recommends Wakari should be closed, so there should be a couple of nurses wanting work.
Taking a very close look at all aspects of the health system, especially in the Dunedin area, it difficult to see what the problem is, and how it should be fixed ... this isn't rocket science !!
There have been so many consultants bought in to report on this, that and the next thing ... what really needs to happen is for those consultants, board members and the Minister of Health, to put on the appropriate attire (full PPE would be good) and get into the thick of it with the nurses and carers of people with disabilities or mental health issues ... sitting behind a desk getting a consultant to do their work is just plain idiotic ... they need to be emptying bedpans, wiping up the vomit, and everything else those nurses do for those in need.
My guess is that they wouldn't last a week, but there's no use getting a consultant to write a report that says there needs to be another report done. I'd certainly like to know how much is spent on reports ... probably enough to give the nurses a 10% pay rise every year !!