'Exasperated' nurses strike at specialist Waitākere Hospital ward
Nurses and healthcare assistants at Waitākere Hospital's Muriwai Ward are striking for two hours to demand an additional night-shift nurse, citing patient safety concerns due to understaffing. Staff delegate Neil Warrington states that current staffing levels put vulnerable stroke and elderly patients at risk, leading to inadequate care and past incidents of patient injury. Health New Zealand acknowledges concerns and states measures are being taken, including a review and recruitment.
Why it matters
This strike highlights critical understaffing issues in healthcare, directly impacting patient safety and staff well-being, and could lead to broader discussions about healthcare funding and resource allocation in New Zealand.
A nurse at Waitākere Hospital says he is walking off the job today because staff can not give vulnerable stroke and older patients the care they deserve overnight.
About 60 nurses and healthcare assistants working on the specialist Muriwai Ward will strike for two hours this morning between 8am and 10am.
New Zealand Nurses organisation delegate Neil Warrington - who has worked at the ward for 23 years - says staff are asking Health New Zealand for one more night-shift nurse to keep patients safe.
Staff were currently rushed and stressed, he said, and some patients with extensive health care needs weren't getting the care they needed.
"Some of our patients need a lot of care even at night. Our patients, many of them are fully dependent, some of them actually have to be moved with a hoist.
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