Nurse fired over anti-vax social media posts denied leave to appeal [Video]

Emily Ireland, Local Democracy Reporting

A former Wairarapa District Health Board [DHB] nurse who was dismissed for posting “anti-vaccine information on Facebook” has lost her leave to appeal last year’s Employment Court decision.

Amanda Turner was previously employed by the DHB as a registered palliative care nurse working in the community from May 2015 until she was dismissed in April 2021.

The dismissal followed an investigation by the DHB into various Facebook posts made by Turner which the DHB said had breached its Code of Conduct and the Nursing Council of New Zealand’s Code of Conduct.

In 2022, Turner lost a challenge to the Employment Relations Authority.

She then lost her challenge in the Employment Court last year and sought to appeal this decision.

However, a recent Court of Appeal Judgement stated this application has been denied and “leave to appeal should not be granted”.

As a result, she may need to pay $20,000 to Te Whatu Ora after unsuccessfully …