Ensuring patients’ needs are met should be the primary factor in determining how many nurses Te Whatu Ora needs, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.

Commissioner Dr Lester Levy this morning revealed Te Whatu Ora is employing 3000 more nurses than it has budgeted for, and blamed recent recruitment. This is still significantly less than the 4800 identified in Te Whatu Ora’s 2023/24 Health Workforce Plan.

NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter says the Commissioner is confusing the difference between budget and need.

“Budget figures and the behaviour of Te Whatu Ora – such as cutting senior clinical roles – is affecting patient care and whānau wellbeing.

“The increase in nursing is driven by demand. We have a growing and aging population which has more serious and complex health needs. We have an acute shortage of nurses in primary and community care.

“Budget figures are plucked out of the air and are a political choice. Aotearoa faces a chronic nurse shortage.

“New Zealanders are well aware of the long waits for care at our hospital Emergency Departments and the difficulty whānau face when trying to access services such as crucial mental health treatment,” he says.

Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health have never agreed to enforceable safe nurse ratios, something in place in Australia, Ireland, Canada and parts of the United States.

“The voice of patients are missing in this financial crisis manufactured by the Coalition Government. The Government can choose to properly fund the health system. And that includes making sure New Zealanders have the nurses they need,” Paul Goulter says.