Mark Freeman
The second Nurses National Action Day took place in 18 centres across New Zealand on Wednesday. Members of Nurses for Freedom and concerned citizens held signs in support of the hundreds of nurses who are still unable to work because of the government’s vaccine mandate in the health sector. https://nursesforfreedomnz.weebly.com/
More than 40 people attended the event outside Wellington Hospital. Signs displayed included the messages “Unemployed nurse”, “2000 health professionals ready to work” and “Available but still mandated.” The responses to the signs from motorists were mostly positive.
Nurses for Freedom spokesperson, Gabrielle Allen, a prison nurse with 21 years’ experience, said the health system, like many other sectors—such as corrections, hospitality and the Fire Service—is in crisis. She believes the health-sector mandate has not been implemented for the health of the people.
Ms Allen said the mandates are putting more pressure on the existing staff in the health system, and many staff are leaving. Some nurses and doctors won’t return to their careers: “That will be a devastating loss, but hopefully there will be some—if they’re allowed to go back. And if our system is so broken it won’t allow them back, we need a different system.”
