Calls for urgent action to extend pay parity to GP nurses continues

The General Practice Leaders Forum (GPLF) has joined the growing list of organisations expressing their frustration and disappointment following the decision not to include nurses working in general practice in the recent pay parity announcement.

Yesterday, the GPLF sent an open letter (see attached) to Minister Little seeking immediate government action to extend full pay parity funding to all primary care nurses – including general practice nurses.

Dr Mark Peterson, GPLF Chair says, “To hear the Minister repeatedly say that he has seen no evidence of a pay difference between hospital nurses and our general practice nurses is incredibly hard to hear – especially for the nurses.“

“This is the time when we need to be supporting, maintaining and growing the health workforce, not making us feel undervalued and underappreciated.”

General practice nurses are an integral part of any general practice team, and they provide a valuable service to GPs and to the 94 percent of New Zealanders who are enrolled at a general practice.

“There is the data to show the extent of the pay gap between hospital specialists and primary care specialists and there is also plenty of evidence to show how a well-functioning general practice system can improve health outcomes, reduce hospital admissions, and save the health sector money.

“If our general practice workforce is not supported, health outcomes for New Zealanders will only get worse, and this is not what anyone working in the health sector wants to see,” says Dr Peterson.

The GPLF consists of members from The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, GenPro, General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ), the New Zealand College of Primary Healthcare Nurses, and the Practice Managers and Administrators Association of New Zealand (PMAANZ).