In June we wrote and provided some high-level feedback following our members input in our last survey. Thanks to all your feedback we are continuing to take an evidence-based position on a couple of issues related to these matters. The first was getting a guarantee from the Minister that any attempt by Te Whatu Ora to cut costs at the expense of our members would be rejected which we have included the response to earlier in our newsletter. The second has been the reversal of an attempt by Te Whatu Ora to halt or slow the recruitment of some RMO vacancies. This reversal was the result of our pressure. We are also continuing to advocate, both directly to Te Whatu Ora and through sharing our concerns publicly about the current challenges for RMOs.
Please continue to get in touch if you are aware of any instance of Te Whatu Ora cost cutting at our members expense or pausing/delaying recruitment in your service please contact us as soon as possible.
Survey results
Overview
In May we asked members to provide first-hand workforce information in order to assess the impacts of Te Whatu Ora’s cost cutting attempts. We asked about your work, your workplace, and your observations and more than a third of you have responded. As previously stated, this information has been critical to putting pressure for change but there is still a lot more to do yet.
Summary of Results
The results are concerning. While there does not appear to be any one service or district that stands out as particularly under-resourced there is a clear pattern of increases in vacancies and decreases in staff resources across most services and most districts.
We have been particularly concerned about the consistently low levels of morale across our workforce. Approximately half of respondents have reported reductions of staffing in their district, more than 45% have reported reductions in staffing in their service. Similar numbers have identified increases in vacancies, and reductions in resources in their workplace.
A full quarter of respondents have reported an increase in cancelled clinics due to staffing shortages.
Correspondingly, significant numbers of members are reporting increases in duties, cross cover, and unpaid hours.
On a scale of feeling pessimistic (1) to optimistic (5) about ongoing resourcing and staffing of their service, the average response was 1.6.
Additional comments provided by members make it clear that this further pressure has come on top of an already incredibly stretched system.
We are immensely concerned that our workforce has reached a tipping point where the pressures on RMOs cause by shortages are accelerating the increase of these shortages. We have been taking a hard line with Te Whatu Ora on staffing and resources and will continue to do so.
If you would like to review the anonymised summary of results from Survey Monkey you can do so HERE.