November 9th, 2024

National Party unveils plan to tackle nurse and midwife shortages in New Zealand

The National Party leader criticized Labour for prioritizing bureaucracy over investment in frontline healthcare professionals, leading to a faltering system and burnt-out staff.

Luxon emphasized that the current crisis has led to increasing waitlists, delays in treatment, and overcrowded emergency departments.
Luxon emphasized that the current crisis has led to increasing waitlists, delays in treatment, and overcrowded emergency departments.

The National Party of New Zealand, under the leadership of Christopher Luxon, has put forth a comprehensive plan to address the severe shortage of nurses and midwives in the country's healthcare system.

Luxon emphasized that the current crisis has led to increasing waitlists, delays in treatment, and overcrowded emergency departments.

During the last five years under the Labour government, nearly 19,000 nurses have left the public health system, according to the National Party media release.

The National Party leader criticized Labour for prioritizing bureaucracy over investment in frontline healthcare professionals, leading to a faltering system and burnt-out staff.

To resolve the workforce crisis, Luxon announced the National Party's plan to incentivize more New Zealanders to study nursing or midwifery. Under this proposal, the government would pay up to $4,500 per year toward student loan repayments for nurses and midwives during the first five years of their career. This would result in a total savings of $22,500, increasing their take-home pay by $87 per week.

In order to access the scheme, nurses and midwives would need to enter into a bonding agreement with the government, committing to work in New Zealand for at least five years post-graduation. The program will also be open to registered nurses and midwives who have graduated within the last five years, on a pro-rata basis.

Furthermore, the National Party aims to make New Zealand more competitive globally for skilled workers by allowing qualified overseas nurses and midwives to enter the country on a six-month temporary visa without a job offer. Immediate family members would also be allowed to accompany them. A relocation support scheme would be established, offering up to 1,000 qualified overseas nurses and midwives relocation grants worth up to $10,000 each to support their move to New Zealand.

Luxon stressed the urgency of addressing the nursing and midwifery shortage in the country to ensure adequate support for the frontline healthcare workforce and to provide New Zealanders with the healthcare services they deserve.