Hospital administration staff essential

“Administration and clerical staff working in public hospitals provide essential support to front line clinical staff, including senior doctors and dentists, and need to be paid fairly,” says Angela Belich, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

She was commenting on reports that Public Service Association members who work in administration and clerical positions at district health boards are raising an equal pay claim with their employers (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/103196585/district-health-board-admin-and-clerical-staff-raise-equal-pay-claim).

Ms Belich noted the PSA’s comments that the people in these roles are among the poorest-paid workers in the health system and mostly women.

“Everyone working in the public health system is grappling with the consequences of years of under-funding for our public hospitals and the resulting increase in workload and stress,” she says.

“Administration staff help our hospitals run smoothly and senior doctors rely on their support, so it’s important the value of their work is recognised.”