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More staff on than normal during nurses strike

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Sat, 14 Jul 2018, 6:55AM
Photo / File
Photo / File

More staff on than normal during nurses strike

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Sat, 14 Jul 2018, 6:55AM

It's been claimed there were actually more staff scheduled to work during the strike than there would be on a normal day.

A certain number of nursing staff was retained during the strike to provide life-preserving services.

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says in some places this agreement required there to be more staff than normal - showing the true extent of staff shortages.

Executive Director, Ian Powell, says DHBs cover normal shortages by getting nurses to work overtime and calling in casual staff, both at a higher hourly cost.

He says a more efficient and cheaper use of salaried staff would free up more money, potentially providing a negotiation breakthrough.

"By increasing the number and pay for permanent staff in order to reduce the reliance on having to pay existing staff overtime rates to compensate for the lack of staff numbers."

He says more effective use could be made of current funding.

"So I think the parties have to get away from the notion that more money is needed from Government, and recognise that the way money is being spent at the moment by DHB's is not the most effective way."

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