Anne Daniels: NZNO President on St John's plan to axe multiple volunteer programmes by next June

There's fears St John's cutting of community programmes will put more pressure on health workers.

The organisation's new community health direction will see the Therapy Pets and Hospital Volunteers and Community Carers programmes wrap up by next June.

NZNO President Anne Daniels says logic suggests these cuts have been made due to declining funding.

"Even though these volunteers don't get paid, there is an infrastructure cost. And like everybody these days, funding is less than it should be - and I suspect that's the same for St John. But I can't say, hand on heart, that I know that for a fact."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
There are worries about Saint John's plan to cut their
community services. Saint John's plans to pull community care, has pet,
their therapy services and remove from in hospital volunteers from
in hospital emergency departments. And Daniels is the president of
the New Zealand Nurses Organization and with us hi end hi,
how are you doing well? Thank you? Practically what is
this going to do to EDS?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
The fact is that we're absolutely hammered. Every single day
I get texts using the language has changed over the
last year or so. We've gone from any hours to
any hours desperate will take anything text for nursing staff.
So in that context, with the huge nursing staff and

(00:47):
gaps and the unsafe work environment, we absolutely rely on
our friends of the emergency department, Saint John's volunteers to
actually help us make sure that our patients are not
absolutely left in the corridor alone and thinking has everybody

(01:09):
forgotten me? They are doing an amazing job. They keep
people comfortable, they reassure them, they come and get us
if they think there's something going on. Without them, we
will be lost.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Do you think this is about money for Saint John Well?

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Saint John's is denying that. And I have to question
that because even though these volunteers don't get paid, there
is an infrastructure costs and like everybody these days, funding
is less than it should be. And I suspect that's
the same for Saint John's. But I can't say, hand

(01:50):
on heart, I know that for a fact. But logic
says that that is the problem.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
So if it is about money, then can it be
turned around? Do you think with donations?

Speaker 2 (02:01):
I don't think it should be. I actually think Saint
John's should be fully funded by the government to do
the job that they are doing right now. And we've
heard stories about Saint John's not being able to get
to people in time. We've heard stories about the ambulances
getting there too late in people dying. But you know

(02:22):
this is the paige Saint John's workforce. There's not enough
of them. There are not enough ambulances out in the
rural area. Most of the stations of are manned by volunteers.
Are they also going to be cut? If they are,
that is going to be horendous for our rural communities.

(02:43):
And when we've got a government saying that they're standing
up for reducing and eliminating a postcode lottery. Well, I
can't see it happening.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
And I really appreciate your time. Thank you, Anne Daniel's
New Zealand Nurses Organization President.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
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