Contribution towards Pay Disparity – A Bandaid not a Solution
Hospices around the country are welcoming a pay boost next week as Te Whatu Ora pay out the first $40 million to close the pay gap between nurses in primary and community providers and Te Whatu Ora employed nurses.
27 hospices will receive a share of around $1.8 million of this funding.
While the additional funding will certainly be appreciated by hospices, and hopefully will go some way to resolving serious workforce shortages and recruitment challenges, Chief Executive of Hospice New Zealand, Wayne Naylor, says it is still not a solution to sustainable hospice funding.
“We’ve been pleased to work with Te Whatu Ora to distribute this funding and it is an important step in the right direction”, he says “But funding to improve staff pay is just one piece of the puzzle to achieve sustainable hospice funding.”
The funding, originally announced by Minister Little last year as “pay parity for all health workers in primary and community care” is now described by Te Whatu Ora as a “contribution towards pay disparity to address the pay gap” and is for nursing staff only. Mr Naylor says it will not address the pay disparity for a large proportion of other hospice staff including Allied Health, family support and administration staff.
There is a separate Social Workers Pay Equity Settlement being progressed through the Public Service Commission to bring all community social workers onto the same national scale and this will include social workers working in hospices.
“Pay parity is a long way off,” says Mr Naylor. “Since Te Whatu Ora announced the increase in its nurse salaries in line with the in-principle pay equity rates agreed in 2021, it has become unaffordable for them to use their nursing staff salary scale as the baseline for the pay parity in other sectors”.
“So, the base has now been set at 95% of Te Whatu Ora rates meaning that pay parity is even less achievable.” With a hospice nurse being paid up to $20,000 less than an equivalent Te Whatu Ora nurse, this means parity is even more unrealistic.”
“I’m concerned that smaller hospices will receive little funding and they are the ones with the greatest gaps to Te Whatu Ora pay rates. If Te Whatu Ora really want to see primary and community health providers on an equal footing with hospital and specialist services, then they have to realise this is just the first step in addressing funding disparities”“ says Mr Naylor.
“Last year, it cost over $186 million to provide free hospice care across New Zealand. While the Government provided $92.1 million, Hospices had to raise over $94 million from their communities to bridge the gap.
“ We are calling on the government to do more to support a sustainable future for hospices so they can continue to provide free of charge care for the most vulnerable in our community; dying well is a human right. ” says Mr Naylor.
Dilmah donates $20,000 to Hospice New Zealand
Every couple of years Dilmah runs a promotion to raise money for hospice. During August-September 2022, Dilmah committed to donating 50c from each box of Extra Strength tea bags sold, raising an incredible $20,000 for Hospice New Zealand.
We had the pleasure of meeting with Dilmah CEO, Dilhan Fernando and his son Amrit on their recent visit to New Zealand. Read more here
Te Wai Bereavement Quilts: Bringing comfort and compassion to death in hospital settings
We do not think of hospitals as the ideal place for our friends or whānau or even for ourselves to die. And yet about one in three people will die in the busy acute hospital environment. How can we make that experience a bit more human and compassionate? Read more here
What does a day bring in the life of a Paediatric Palliative Care Specialist?
We asked Dr Ross Drake to share one of his days with us. From meetings on the marae to complex pain telehealth consultations it’s a packed day providing interdisciplinary, integrated and collaborative care for children. And as Ross says, ” it reinforces to me the totally inadequate funding being provided by Health NZ to care for children requiring palliative care.” Read more here
Surveying the Hospice Scene in Aotearoa. What does our community specialist palliative care look like?
Salina Iupati, a PHD candidate researching community specialist palliative care services in Aotearoa, has recently completed a survey of all 32 hospices to understand the range of community hospice care and service they provide and the populations they serve.
We asked Salina to discuss her study with us at Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa / Hospice New Zealand. Read more here
Farmers raises over $905,000 for hospices across Aotearoa!
Hospices across the country have been overwhelmed by the generous support of Farmers stores and customers in the lead up to Christmas. The annual Farmers Christmas Campaign has raised over $905,000 for hospices this year.
Read more here
Funding to address pay parity for Hospice staff
Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa – Hospice New Zealand was very pleased to hear the Minister of Health’s announcement about funding to increase pay for frontline community health workers including hospice staff.
Over the past few years, hospices, along with many primary and community health care providers, have fallen behind on pay rates when compared to Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand employees.
Read more here
Pay parity funding release Hospice NZ
$50,000 of specialised equipment for Hospices from The Harcourts Foundation
Hospices around New Zealand have benefited from nearly $50,000 in specialised equipment, thanks to the 2022 grants provided by the Harcourts Foundation and its supporting business owners.
Hospice New Zealand announces Richard Westlake as new independent Chair
Richard Westlake, an experienced professional director, with extensive public and private sector governance experience has been appointed Chair of Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa/ Hospice New Zealand.
A Turning Point for Palliative Care
In an unprecedented move, Te Whatu Ora has appointed Jo Hathaway as Senior Advisor – Palliative Care. In Jo’s words, this is ‘a turning point for palliative care.’ We couldn’t agree more.
Help Dilmah raise $20,000 for Hospice NZ.
If you love a good cuppa, there is no better time to sit back and enjoy it. During August and September your tea drinking habits can help raise $20,000 for Hospice NZ.
Palliative care in New Zealand is critically ill
“Many New Zealanders are missing out on vital palliative care services as the government continues to inadequately resource the sector” says Wayne Naylor, spokesperson from the newly established Palliative Care Collaborative Aotearoa (PCCA).
Read more about the newly established Palliative Care Collaborative Aotearoa (PCCA).
New CEO for Hospice New Zealand
Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa/Hospice New Zealand has appointed Wayne Naylor as its new Chief Executive. Read more here.
Shining a spotlight on the shocking state of hospice funding in New Zealand
During the past few months, hospice and the critical service it provides has been in the news.
Sadly, not as an opportunity to help New Zealanders understand more about death and dying and hospice care but for a very urgent reason, nonetheless.
Media Release – $3.1 million offers ‘breathing space’ for hospices
Interim Health New Zealand’s $3.1 million of one-off funding for hospice care announced last week, has been met with gratitude from the sector and a call for more investment.
“In light of our disappointment that hospices received nothing in Budget 2022, despite billions going to health, we are grateful for this contribution”, says Acting CEO, Hospice New Zealand, Wayne Naylor.
“It gives our hospices some breathing space at a time when our communities are shouldering the burden of the increased cost to deliver quality palliative care.”
Hari Matariki ki a koutou kātoa.
Matariki is a time for reflection on the past year; and preparation for the year to come. It is a time for remembering our whānau and friends who no longer walk among us, as well as a time to consider our aspirations for the future.
Hari Matariki ki a koutou kātoa – Happy Matariki to you all.
Ending Life Well – a podcast series for carers.
A new podcast series to help carers who have been thrown in the deep end caring for loved ones who are dying is now available on all good podcast apps. Read more about the series and where to listen here.
Twelve New Zealand Hospices Benefit from Harcourts Foundation Grants
Hospices around New Zealand have benefited from more than $30,000 in specialised equipment, thanks to recent grants provided by the Harcourts Foundation and its supporting business owners. Read more here.
End of Life Care Becomes a Legal Right in England
A milestone law change in England could end a postcode lottery under which tens of thousands of people die every year without adequate support or pain relief.
We too, need a fairer system that backs the right of all New Zealanders. Read more here.
Visionary Palliative Care Leader, Dr Goh dies
Hospice New Zealand / Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa is deeply saddened by the news of the death of Dr Cynthia Goh, a giant in the field of palliative care in the Asia Pacific region. Read a tribute to Dr Cynthia here.
Over $908,000 raised for hospices across the country.
Thank you to everyone who bought a Hospice bauble or donated to the Tree of Remembrance at Farmers, this Christmas. You have all contributed to keeping hospice services free in your local community. Read more here.
Meet Nurse Julie.
Nurse Julie has become a TikTok and Instagram star in her efforts to try and normalize death and dying and take the fear out an often-taboo subject. Find out more.
Christmas with Farmers.
This year’s bauble evokes the Christmas spirit, where family, friends and communities come to together to enjoy each other’s company and to make lasting memories. Click here to find out more.
Hospice NZ Chief Executive Mary Schumacher resigns after 16 years at the helm.
The chief executive of Hospice New Zealand is stepping down after nearly 16 years leading the organisation. Read more about Mary’s incredible contribution to the palliative care sector here.
Kathryn’s story.
All New Zealander’s deserve to end their life well.
Senior researcher at the Maxim Institute, Danielle van Dalen has spent the last year researching palliative care in New Zealand and it is clear to her that New Zealanders’ accessibility to palliative care services needs urgent attention. Read more here.
Celebrating World Hospice & Palliative Care Day!
Hospices provide palliative care, which aims to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of people with a life limiting illness. Learn more about palliative care here.
Tiny token. Big impact.
Hospice NZ is incredibly excited to be part of the Z Energy NZ Good in the Hood campaign.
Every time a customer makes a purchase at Z this June, they’ll be given a token that be can used to vote for Hospice NZ! Find out more here.
Celebrating our CEO
Hospice NZ’s Mary Schumacher recognised with ONZM
In July 2020, we were incredibly proud to see Hospice NZ’s CEO, Mary Schumacher, awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Palliative Care. Find out more here.
Hospice Awareness Week
May 18-23: Help us raise awareness of Hospice
May 2020: Hospice Awareness Week is here! From May 18-24 we’ll be profiling and celebrating the services that hospices provide in their local communities, and addressing misconceptions that people may have around hospice care. Learn how you can help here.
Conference 2020
Hospice NZ Conference Postponed
Mar 2020: Due to the current COVID-19 situation in New Zealand and globally, Hospice NZ has made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Conference planned for September. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract – we’ll be in touch once a new date is confirmed.
Farmers total announcement 2019
Thank you Farmers and all your customers
Jan 2020: Once again hospice services are overwhelmed and humbled by the support from Farmers Department Stores and their customers in the lead up till Christmas. Over $759,000 was donated – find out how each hospice benefitted here.
Recipients of Hospice NZ Grant Programme 2019
Thank you, The Harcourts Foundation
Nov 2019: More than $64,000 has been donated to hospice services throughout the country in the third year of the Harcourts Foundation funded Hospice NZ Grants Programme. Find out the hospices who benefitted in 2019 here.
Standards of Palliative Care in action
Rotorua Hospice’s Bereavement Programme
Nov 2019: Recently Hospice NZ released the fourth edition of the Hospice NZ Standards for Palliative Care (2019). Discover how the team at Rotorua Community Hospice are using the Standards to develop and extend their services in the local community here.
Hospice NZ Networks
Feedback from our workshops
Oct 2019: Each year, Hospice NZ brings together groups of hospice professionals from around the country for our annual networking workshops. Read snippets of the feedback we received in 2019 here. Our sincere thanks to Pub Charity for their support.
