NewsHub 7 October 2020
Family First Comment: “According to leaders in the palliative care field, the sector can no longer survive on “cakes and op shops”.”
Exactly.
And that’s the danger with legalising euthanasia – a cheaper option.
Scary.
According to leaders in the palliative care field, the sector can no longer survive on “cakes and op shops”.
Dr Aileen Collier, Chair of Palliative Care Nurses New Zealand, said nurses’ pay was just the start of major problems facing a sector that is caring for an increasing number of patients as the population continues to age.
“It’s urgent, if we don’t do something now, we’re going to be in real trouble.”
Collier said hospice and aged care nurses are paid around 20 percent less than their DHB peers, and that was backed up by Dr Brian Ensor, the Medical Director at Hospice Waikato.
“That is a real struggle,” Ensor said.
“The funding of nursing staff and allied health staff, trying to keep them within cooee of the DHB, which is a major competitor for experienced staff, is a real problem.”
And the concerns are shared by the aged care sector – which now cares for the greater portion of people in their final months and days.
READ MORE: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/10/palliative-care-can-t-just-survive-on-cakes-and-op-shops-leaders.html
