Doctors are throwing their support behind nurses' push for better pay as they go on strike.
Nurses in community-based providers such as accident clinics and general practises are striking on Thursday, asking to be paid as much as their colleagues working in hospitals and for DHBs. The latter struck a deal with the Ministry of Health earlier this year, meaning they're now on salaries about $7650 higher than the former, who are employed in the private sector.
"These are very highly-skilled workforces, both in the hospitals and community," College of GPs medical director Bryan Betty told The AM Show on Thursday.
"Community nurses are the backbone of general practise in this country, they're the backbone of the frontline health service and they need to be recognised as such."
Around 3200 nurses are taking part in the strike. Some will gather outside Parliament at midday for a silent protest, whilst observing COVID-19 distancing measures. Other events are planned around the country, including in Auckland and Christchurch.
The New Zealand Nurses' Organisation (NZNO) notified employers about two weeks ago, giving them time to make contingency plans.
"As a patient you may see some issues with contacting the clinic - it may be a bit slower than it normally is," said Dr Betty. "You might see some deferred appointments... we know the GPs are picking up a lot of the extra load... If you need to be seen, you will be seen. There's no doubt about that at all."
Health Minister Chris Hipkins says it's a matter for nurses and their employers, not the Government.
"In general the Government supports pay parity, equal pay for equal work, that's a basic premise that we do support. Having said that, in primary care we are not the employer of those nurses."
NZNO says it would only need $15 million funding from the Government to patch up the pay gap.
"The employers actually want pay parity, they need to, because the recruitment and retention issues in primary health care are very serious," NZNO spokesperson Chris Wilson told The AM Show on Wednesday.
"We are ready of course to meet anytime and resolve this, but the Government does need to put in some additional funding so it can be resolved."
While the College of GPs is taking a neutral stance on the strike itself, Dr Betty says there's no reason community nurses should be paid less than those employed by DHBs and working in hospitals.
"We need to see the recognition of the work that nurses do in the community sector... running immunisation clinics, cervical screening... diabetes clinics, youth clinics, sexual health, they visit in the community to the elderly, to patients who can't get out of bed. Incredibly complex and disciplined work."
