References to the Public Sector in the NZSP Annual Reports

1980 - The Society  took an irrevocable step on behalf of the hospital therapists in resigning from the Society of Hospital Employee Organisations and standing in it’s own right as an industrial negotiator for Hospital staff. Subsequently SHEO dissolved  As long as we wish to retain the individual approach to our Award in Hospital, a home for our negotiation will be difficult and considerable thought must be given to the role of a professional organisation  eg the Society in industrial negotiations.  Physiotherapists employed in Hospital will have to apply for expert assistance either within the Society or through another organisation,  both of which will require considerable financial input on behalf of those member involved.  The work of the salaries Committee was particularly onerous and Dorothy Gordon served on this exceedingly well in a very difficult job for some years.  Heather Gordon succeeded her at a most difficult stage, and is performing a complex and mammoth task in preparing and presenting further submissions.

1984 - during the year the hospital physiotherapists elected to change their industrial negotiations from the Society to the Public Service Association (PSA).  There will inevitably be matters which are of concern to the Society which impinge on the employment of physiotherapists and it is hoped that the two organisations can work together to the betterment of Physiotherapy as a whole

1987 HPA  page 15 -in 1986 the Hospital Physiotherapists Association and the Charge physiotherapists Association amalgamated..  Not a very active year.  Two newsletters were sent out, and Committee has been consulted on a number of topics and the H.P.A. advised the NZSP on the following

The Health Benefits Review Report.  The Interdepartmental Health/Treasury Taskforce  Vivienne Pearce put this together and it was used as a basis for the Society’s submission.  The Social Policy Review, using material already given in 1 & 2.  The pros and cons of working in a hospital.  An abridged version was given in the last Newsletter

$200 was given to the Senior physiotherapists Managers Group towards the cost of a national workshop.

The President Eileen Lamb questioned “What she was supposed to do.  They were to encourage interest in Physiotherapy affairs and the NZSP amongst hospital physiotherapists. To encourage clinical excellence and provide opportunities for continuing education , to provide a two way channel of communication between the Society and members.  There were only 19 members each of whom paid $25 for little return”.  Eileen asked for the topic to be discussed at the AGM

1988 page 11 The 1988 AGM did discuss the matter with a very enthusiastic meeting lasting nearly one & half hours.  There was a real feeling of wanting to make the voice of hospital physiotherapists heard and that an effort should be made to persuade public sector physiotherapists that there was value in belonging to the Society.

A result Peter Browne & Lois Clarkson designed a poster which was sent to medium and large hospitals throughout the country, the a PRDC “package”.  There was a feeling that hospital physiotherapists were realising that there was value in belonging to the Society,  and that their political voice should be heard.  One newsletter was sent out, but the voice of hospital physiotherapists was heard in Society submissions.

1989 page 10 This was a very unsettled year and the uncertainty continued in NZ Hospitals.  The hospital physiotherapists held an AGM in April 1989 and elected Helen Rance as President.  The role was very much a caretaker one with few demands on the Committee, which made them wonder whether there was a reason for being.

With the changes in 1990 colleagues need support, but Executive queried whether the H.P.A. was the most appropriate way to give it.  Nelson branch would no longer be able to accept responsibility for H.P.A. and with most Executive moving to other areas someone else would need to take up the challenge.

1990  page 10  was in “storage mode” all year. Prior to the 1990 April AGM members were invited by questionnaire to comment on the future role of the  group.  Replies endorsed the feeling that it was essential to maintain a group that would communicate between and speak for physiotherapists employed by Area Health Boards.  Despite this only 4 people attended that AGM, with a further four at a supplementary meeting the next day.  News came that an alternative group - Public Sector physiotherapists was incorporated in 1990.  A letter to the editor of their newsletter received no reply.  The H.P.A. did have input into the briefing papers submitted the NZSP to the new Ministers of Health and Education and made statements which were included in the submission on the Health Commissioners Bill.

1991  page 1 - A part-time co-ordinator to assist members employed by the Area Health Boards - Sue Webster

          page 12 Dwindling support for the H.P.A. led to the establishing of the position of NZSP co-ordinator of the Health Board employees.  27 liaison officers were established in hospitals from Northland to Invercargill, giving direct and effective communication links.  It was a difficult year with proposed changes creating confusion and concern. Management structure changed,  with the development of some staff to service managers.

With the prospect of contracting for services physiotherapists are more aware of the need to measure outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.  Sue addressed the Senior Managers Group in October 1991 and explained her role to them and pass on the many and varied ideas from around the country.  The employment Contracts Bill created concern about salary negotiations and the lack of professional information available to individuals and PSA delegates.

Grading systems for therapists in the public sector have no nationally standardised criteria and this created problems for staff and managers alike.  Outpatients found the threat of  user part charges a threat.  As co-ordinator Sue disseminated information to members and obtained feedback in return.  There was a considerable variation between Area Health Boards making effective communication most important.

1992 -nothing

1993 page 16 Change continued throughout the year.  Many Physiotherapy  “departments” were devolved and non-physiotherapy managers appointed.  Physiotherapists fought to retain current wages and conditions,  and in some areas had reduced penal and overtime rates. (No National  award now, salaries were negotiated on a regional basis.)  Strikes occurred in several CHEs involving physiotherapists over breakdowns in wage negotiations.  There was a shortage of physiotherapists during the year and many overseas physiotherapists were recruited.  The hospital co-ordinator Robin McGlashen tried to improve communication channels between the Society the hospital physiotherapists who were NZSP members.  There were monthly newsletters, correspondence with Hospital Liaison Offices and visits where possible to different departments throughout the country.  In August she attended the Senior Physiotherapy Manager’s Conference to hear how the Health Reforms were impacting on physiotherapy departments and Managers.

Through 1993 she assisting co-ordination of a Working Party of hospital physiotherapists,  the aim of which is to come up with a National set of criteria for “Senior/Clinical Specialist” positions for Hospital employed physiotherapists.  Hospital Physiotherapists gave feedback to contribute to NZSP submissions throughout the year - Mutual Recognition agreement, Health Information Privacy Code, GP referral letter, “Seeking Consensus” discussion document and draft guidelines for clinical post-audit methodology for CHEs.  Because hospital physiotherapists on a low salary felt the NZSP membership fees were too high the NZSP introduced a new category for those earning under $32,000.  Hospital physiotherapists appreciated this by increased numbers joining the Society. 

1994 page 2 - Robin McGlashen was farewelled from her position in 1994,  the resignation gave Executive the opportunity to rethink the professional advisory role,  and it was agreed that a new position should be established, that of  Professional Advisor to the membership. 

1995 - a new Executive Officer and Office Manager to be appointed instead of a Professional Advisor

1996 - page 2 - President’s Report  - Nell Dawson and Fiona Murdoch made a number of visits to hospital to speak to physiotherapists and Nell produced a Hospital Sector newsletter, with very good feedback from these initiatives.

1997 - President’s Report  page 2 - Lee Gardiner President and Gail de Boer attended the Physiotherapy  Manager’s Annual Conference and were impressed.

Raising the profile of the Society to Public Sector physiotherapists continued with the Society recognising the differing needs of hospital and community physiotherapists.  Concern over the erosion of physiotherapy services and salaried in the public sector has led the Society to develop the frame work for a working party to look at these issues in 1998.