Nurses call for safer staffing
New Plymouth nurses put their scrubs aside for plastic rain ponchos and old-fashioned nursing outfits as they marched for better pay and safer staffing on Saturday.
The protest was greeted by enthusiastic tooting and waving from passers-by as the group of more than 200 people marched around the CBD from the clocktower to Puke Ariki.
Nurse Deanna Bloor said they had a greater online presence for this march through social media, and everyone was more connected to it.
‘‘When you’re online
everyone’s there with you,’’ she said.
‘‘The reason that I’m here and my grandson is here is for safer staffing – more staffing to keep our patients safe.
‘‘My mum was a nurse; the same issues were around then. They’ve been important for years, for a long time.’’
Hundreds marched around the country to raise awareness for nurses suffering in the workplace because of under staffing, under resourcing, missed breaks, unpaid overtime and low wages.
Another nurse, who did not want to give her name, said she was there because of ‘‘frustration with the huge workloads and the poor pay that we get for doing it’’.
‘‘It’s a lack of recognition really.’’
A nurse, who also wished to remain anonymous, said they were grateful for all the support they had received from their families, the public and other medical professionals for their peaceful protest.
‘‘It just affects everyone in the community.
‘‘It allows us to provide better care for our patients.’’
Organiser Denyse Kirby said they were raising awareness for the situations of nurses and the health system.
She said she was glad that they got the good turnout for the march they had expected despite the weather.
‘‘We’re really pleased at how it turned out.’’