Petition presented at parliament.

Paraparaumu multiple sclerosis sufferer Phillip Segedin, district nurses and NZNO staff and supporters gathered on the steps of Parliament last month to present a more than 6000-signature petition to Health Minister Pete Hodgson. The petition opposes the privatisation of Wellington region's district nursing service.

Speaking on behalf of the district nurses, Louise Wickens from Keneperu Community Health said she wanted to plead with the Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) not to privatise the service. "Our job is very valuable and patients will suffer if the service is privatised," she said. Segedin said the service was a critical part of many people's lives. "We wouldn't even have a life without it. Privatisation is not an option in my book. Commonsense must prevail."

Green Party health spokesperson Sue Kedgley questioned whether the DHB's deficit was behind moves to change the service. "With our aging population, New Zealand's demand for expert and reliable home-based care is only going to increase, and the link between hospital and community care will be increasingly significant. District nurses, based within the DHB, enable those who are discharged early to have confidence there will be continuity of care."

Arriving after the petition had been presented to Labour MP Darren Hughes by We Care organiser Lyndy McIntyre, Hodgson said it was clear the health system was going to need more district nurses, as they enabled people to stay out of hospital. "Most district nurses are employed by DHBs. However, the nature of the employer is less important than what the nurses do and don't do. There are many ways that a district nursing service can be arranged. Most often the DHBs will provide the service, but sometimes partnerships with other providers will develop. As the years go by, this service must be strengthened," the Minister said.

The petition will be attached to the options paper being considered by CCDHB.