Shorty St to attract nurses
Recruitment programme to lure health staff to NZ includes using TV programme
Health Minister Andrew Little has set out a package of measures to try to woo health workers, ranging from using the Shortland Street television soap to offering financial incentives for overseas doctors and nurses to come over.
Little set out the new plan yesterday, but the Government has not backed down to calls to include nurses on the immigration Green List, which would give them automatic and immediate residency. Nurses who migrate must work as nurses for two years before getting residency instead.
Little said he had promised dressing the workforce shortages would be his top priority after the health reforms kicked in at the end of June.
The measures include a recruitment programme to get young people into nursing — which will include a campaign with the TV programme Shortland Street, as well as on social media platforms.
He said while he didn’t know the details of it, it would see the programme “assist in promoting nursing as a fantastic career”.
He said he was not aware of any payment for that agreement.
Other measures aimed at getting overseas doctors and nurses to migrate to New Zealand include payments of up to $10,000 for nurses to take the steps required for registration in New Zealand, and a sixmonth bridging programme for doctors, including paying their salaries for induction courses and internships.
Little said those payments would remove the cost barriers for migrant health workers wanting to come and make the move as easy as possible.
Health NZ will also set up a onestop service to help recruit migrant health professionals and steer them through the immigration process and training and registration requirements.
Little said Health NZ was cleared to recruit into 1980 roles, including nearly 1200 nursing positions.
Asked why nurses were not put on the Green List, Little said that already 7000 health professionals, including 3200 nurses, had registered interest from overseas. “So I don’t think we are going to have difficulty recruiting nurses, or any other health professionals, whether it’s midwives or others, from offshore.”
There is a shortage of about 3000 nurses and a bid to get former nurses back in New Zealand will include $5000 funding to re-register – an expansion of an existing programme that will now also include those wanting to work part-time.
There are also moves to boost the numbers of those training as GPS, nurse practitioners, and funding to increase numbers of radiology registrars.
While a wage gap still existed between New Zealand and Australia — which is also seeking to recruit nurses — Little said wages had increased significantly since 2017, and would go up by a further $10,000 - $12,000 once a pay equity deal was signed.