Latest news with #CollegeofMidwives
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Staff beg Health NZ not to swap Wellington Hospital maternity, gynecology beds for ED patients
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut beds from Wellington Hospital's maternity and gynecology wards and re-allocate them for emergency department patients. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Midwives and specialists are begging Health New Zealand to abandon a proposal to cut beds from Wellington Hospital's maternity and gynecology wards. In what's being described as an emotional meeting at the hospital, staff and community midwives on Monday told the agency not to go ahead with a four month trial that would re-allocate 12 beds to create a medical ward for patients from the over-crowded emergency department. Health NZ has been approached for comment following yesterday's meeting. It has previously said it expected the same number of patients could be cared for once the changes were in place and that occupancy figures showed maternity often had unused beds. But staff maintained the wards are often at capacity. Independent midwife (LMC) and Wellington chair of the College of Midwives Suzi Hume said more than 100 people showed up in person and online at Monday's meeting to oppose the trial - slated to start next month. She said the message to management was a resounding "you cannot do this" with people queuing for the microphone. Hume said teams from Lower Hutt also attended as they would be affected under the current proposal. "Part of the escalation plan if we get bed blocked (in Wellington) is to send people out to the Hutt - that has already happened without this." She said there was huge sympathy for colleagues working under extreme pressure in an overcrowded emergency department but said cutting beds from gynaecology and maternity was not the solution. She said management had failed to understand how the maternity wards worked - which was a focus of a lot of discussion at the meeting. "We run like an ED too, we run an acute service. People come in directly from the community directly into our service as well. "We don't know what's going to happen overnight, who's going to be walking through the doors, or in the day, and we have to be ready - have to have spare beds available for whatever arises." An obstetrician who was there, who RNZ has agreed not to name, said the proposal had come completely out of the blue. She said the discusion was robust, but was surprised by its civility given the "enormity of the changes". "A lot of very emotional people because we believe really strongly in this - that this is the wrong move for the hospital. "Everyone is already extremely under the pump - particularly the midwives - you can see day-to-day how they're struggling." She said the maternity wards were already at capacity and she was worried the trial would compromise the hospital's ability to accept transfers from outside the region. "I was on call last week and I accepted two women for transfer who were both less than 24 hours after C-section (cesarean) ,whose babies were being managed in our neonatal unit, who were seriously unwell, and I don't know where those women would go if this change was brought in and we didn't have beds to accomodate them." The obstetrician said Health NZ stressed to those at the meeting that the trial was just a proposal and she said there appeared to be room for negotiation. In response to RNZ's questions, Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government was committed to timely, quality healthcare for everyone, including pregnant women. "I am advised that Health NZ will be working closely with their staff on these changes and that during this trial period, Wellington Regional Hospital will continue to provide high-quality care to the same number of obstetrics and gynaecology patients." Meanwhile, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation said figures obtained under the Official Information Act showed the gynaecology ward, which would lose beds in the trial, was short-staffed for more than a quarter of all shifts. Union delegate Michelle Cotton said safe-staffing levels from January to October last year showed the ward did not have enough nurses for 27 percent of all shifts. She said the organisation thought the government's six-hour wait time target for emergency departments was the motivation for the trial. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Student midwife attacked leaving work
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Health chiefs have increased security at Christchurch Hospital's birthing unit after a student midwife was attacked on the way to their car after leaving work. The staff member was targeted after their shift at the Antigua Street unit in the central city, although the assault did not happen on hospital grounds. College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy said Health New Zealand was doing all it could to ensure the safety of staff. "I understand that the facility does have security staff available to escort staff back to their cars, there's absolutely that provision in place," she said. "I think sometimes people might have to wait a little bit to get access to that and people might feel they don't want to do that. But I understand the facility does everything it can to support the safety of its staff and does make that service available already, and in response to this attack . . . they've stepped up even more support and security to prevent any potential risks." The attack highlighted the risks women faced in Aotearoa, Eddy said. "It's a reflection sadly that we know females are at risk of violence and dark places around hospitals are risky places. That's just the reality of being a female, sadly, in this country. This facility is really aware of that and has done and is continuing to do everything it can to support the safety of everybody who works in those facilities," she said. An email was circulated to staff outlining what had happened, although Health New Zealand would not share details with RNZ because it was not "public information". Waitaha Canterbury director of operations Hamish Brown said the staffer involved was being "well supported". "As a precaution we have increased security measures in this part of the campus to ensure staff, and others who work here, get to their vehicles safely at night," he said. "We continue to remind staff, and others, to take appropriate safety precautions when they leave the hospital campus at night. "At Health NZ, the safety and well-being of our staff, and other workers, is a critical part of delivering quality health care to New Zealanders. We take violence and aggression seriously and our people should expect to come to work and be safe. We encourage them to report all incidents of abuse and assault." Police said the attack did not appear to have been reported to them. "We encourage anyone who is the victim of an assault to make a report online or by calling 105 so police can make enquiries," a spokesperson said.
1News
21-05-2025
- Health
- 1News
Chch hospital security increased after midwife attacked offsite
Health chiefs have increased security at Christchurch Hospital's birthing unit after a student midwife was attacked on the way to their car after leaving work. The staff member was targeted after their shift at the Antigua Street unit in the central city, although the assault did not happen on hospital grounds. College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy said Health New Zealand was doing all it could to ensure the safety of staff. "I understand that the facility does have security staff available to escort staff back to their cars, there's absolutely that provision in place," she said. "I think sometimes people might have to wait a little bit to get access to that and people might feel they don't want to do that. But I understand the facility does everything it can to support the safety of its staff and does make that service available already, and in response to this attack . . . they've stepped up even more support and security to prevent any potential risks." The attack highlighted the risks women faced in Aotearoa, Eddy said. "It's a reflection sadly that we know females are at risk of violence and dark places around hospitals are risky places. That's just the reality of being a female, sadly, in this country. This facility is really aware of that and has done and is continuing to do everything it can to support the safety of everybody who works in those facilities," she said. An email was circulated to staff outlining what had happened, although Health New Zealand would not share details with RNZ because it was not "public information". Waitaha Canterbury director of operations Hamish Brown said the staffer involved was being "well supported". "As a precaution we have increased security measures in this part of the campus to ensure staff, and others who work here, get to their vehicles safely at night," he said. "We continue to remind staff, and others, to take appropriate safety precautions when they leave the hospital campus at night. "At Health NZ, the safety and well-being of our staff, and other workers, is a critical part of delivering quality health care to New Zealanders. We take violence and aggression seriously and our people should expect to come to work and be safe. We encourage them to report all incidents of abuse and assault." Police said the attack did not appear to have been reported to them. "We encourage anyone who is the victim of an assault to make a report online or by calling 105 so police can make enquiries," a spokesperson said.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
'After-hours assaults continue to happen' at hospital
By Tim Brown of RNZ The attack on a student midwife outside Christchurch Hospital's birthing unit has highlighted concerns that have been raised for more than a decade, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation says. The staff member was assaulted on the way to their car after leaving work at the Antigua Street unit in the central city, although the assault did not happen on hospital grounds. Te Whatu Ora said staff safety was critical to the organisation, and the College of Midwives backed the efforts of Health New Zealand. Hospital security boosted after attack But NZNO Christchurch delegate Al Dietschin said the latest attack highlighted the fact that not nearly enough was being done to prevent assaults occurring. "How many incidents do we need to have before the employer acts in the interest of staff in accordance with the Health and Safety Employment Act?" Dietschin said. "They have to provide a safe work environment. They always say health and safety of staff is important, but these after-hours assaults continue to happen." The Tū Waka Waipapa parking building opposite the hospital costs about $25 a day, which was unaffordable for most workers, he said. Following previous assaults, the hospital now offered a minibus shuttle between 9pm and 1am, but staff often had to wait too long for it to arrive, Dietschin said. "Staff are reportedly walking to their cars because they're made to wait 30 minutes or more after working the late shift for the shuttle to arrive. Staff don't feel safe walking to cars after their shift or early morning in the dark, but they're sometimes forced to." Community midwives were now also limited to parking for five hours at the emergency department, which was shocking, Dietschin said. "This used to be available for unlimited time. Now they're forced to ask core staff to relieve them in the middle of a patient's labour so they don't get fined. That's not good for the safety of their patients," he said. "Staff only want safe after-hours parking close to hospital, and we don't want to break the bank for this to happen." College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy said Health New Zealand was doing all it could to ensure the safety of staff. "I understand that the facility does have security staff available to escort staff back to their cars, there's absolutely that provision in place," she said. "I think sometimes people might have to wait a little bit to get access to that and people might feel they don't want to do that. But I understand the facility does everything it can to support the safety of its staff and does make that service available already, and in response to this attack... they've stepped up even more support and security to prevent any potential risks." The attack highlighted the risks women faced in Aotearoa, Eddy said. "It's a reflection sadly that we know females are at risk of violence and dark places around hospitals are risky places. That's just the reality of being a female, sadly, in this country. This facility is really aware of that and has done and is continuing to do everything it can to support the safety of everybody who works in those facilities," she said. An email was circulated to staff outlining what had happened, although Health New Zealand would not share details with RNZ because it was not "public information". Waitaha Canterbury director of operations Hamish Brown said the staffer involved was being "well supported". "As a precaution we have increased security measures in this part of the campus to ensure staff, and others who work here, get to their vehicles safely at night," he said. "We continue to remind staff, and others, to take appropriate safety precautions when they leave the hospital campus at night. "At Health NZ, the safety and well-being of our staff, and other workers, is a critical part of delivering quality health care to New Zealanders. We take violence and aggression seriously and our people should expect to come to work and be safe. We encourage them to report all incidents of abuse and assault." Police said the attack did not appear to have been reported to them. "We encourage anyone who is the victim of an assault to make a report online or by calling 105 so police can make enquiries," a spokesperson said.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Student midwife attack: 'These after-hours assaults continue to happen'
The Nurses Organisation says Te Whatu Ora must provide a safe working environment for staff after another assault outside Christchurch Hospital. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon The attack on a student midwife outside Christchurch Hospital's birthing unit has highlighted concerns that have been raised for more than a decade, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says. The staff member was assaulted on the way to their car after leaving work at the Antigua Street unit in the central city, although the assault did not happen on hospital grounds. Te Whatu Ora said staff safety was critical to the organisation, and the College of Midwives backed the efforts of Health New Zealand. But NZNO Christchurch delegate Al Dietschin said the latest attack highlighted the fact that not nearly enough was being done to prevent assaults occurring. "How many incidents do we need to have before the employer acts in the interest of staff in accordance with the Health and Safety Employment Act?" Dietschin said. "They have to provide a safe work environment. They always say health and safety of staff is important, but these after-hours assaults continue to happen." The Tū Waka Waipapa parking building opposite the hospital costs about $25 a day, which was unaffordable for most workers, he said. Following previous assaults, the hospital now offered a minibus shuttle between 9pm and 1am, but staff often had to wait too long for it to arrive, Dietschin said. "Staff are reportedly walking to their cars because they're made to wait 30 minutes or more after working the late shift for the shuttle to arrive. Staff don't feel safe walking to cars after their shift or early morning in the dark, but they're sometimes forced to." Community midwives were now also limited to parking for five hours at the emergency department, which was shocking, Dietschin said. "This used to be available for unlimited time. Now they're forced to ask core staff to relieve them in the middle of a patient's labour so they don't get fined. That's not good for the safety of their patients," he said. "Staff only want safe after-hours parking close to hospital, and we don't want to break the bank for this to happen." College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy said Health New Zealand was doing all it could to ensure the safety of staff. "I understand that the facility does have security staff available to escort staff back to their cars, there's absolutely that provision in place," she said. "I think sometimes people might have to wait a little bit to get access to that and people might feel they don't want to do that. But I understand the facility does everything it can to support the safety of its staff and does make that service available already, and in response to this attack... they've stepped up even more support and security to prevent any potential risks." The attack highlighted the risks women faced in Aotearoa, Eddy said. "It's a reflection sadly that we know females are at risk of violence and dark places around hospitals are risky places. That's just the reality of being a female, sadly, in this country. This facility is really aware of that and has done and is continuing to do everything it can to support the safety of everybody who works in those facilities," she said. An email was circulated to staff outlining what had happened, although Health New Zealand would not share details with RNZ because it was not "public information". Waitaha Canterbury director of operations Hamish Brown said the staffer involved was being "well supported". "As a precaution we have increased security measures in this part of the campus to ensure staff, and others who work here, get to their vehicles safely at night," he said. "We continue to remind staff, and others, to take appropriate safety precautions when they leave the hospital campus at night. "At Health NZ, the safety and well-being of our staff, and other workers, is a critical part of delivering quality health care to New Zealanders. We take violence and aggression seriously and our people should expect to come to work and be safe. We encourage them to report all incidents of abuse and assault." Police said the attack did not appear to have been reported to them. "We encourage anyone who is the victim of an assault to make a report online or by calling 105 so police can make enquiries," a spokesperson said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
