Nurse resignations add to staff shortage

Wairau Hospital is facing further staff shortages after a slew of resignations.

Four registered nurses within the hospital’s busy Emergency Department have handed in their notice, heading to Australia to work instead.

The move has exacerbated an existing gap in staff numbers which is also affecting hospitals nationwide.

But health bosses are reassuring the public that patient health will not be affected by the loss of 10 per cent of the nursing workforce.

“Like many other countries, Te Whatu Ora faces international competition for its skilled and knowledgeable staff as there is a global shortage of healthcare workers, says Nelson Marlborough Director Nursing & Midwifery Sandy McLean-Cooper.

“In this case, we can confirm that four Registered Nurses at Wairau Hospital have decided to take up positions in Australia.

“Nurses have amazing transferable skills, and we always encourage the development of a wide spectrum of skills.”

Sandy says contingency plans are in place for this, with cover coming from both in and outside the region.

“Contingencies include cover from within our district; cover from Nelson’s emergency department; use of the casual workforce pool; and assistance from elsewhere in our region.

“We would like to reassure thepublic that urgent and emergency care will always be available at Wairau Hospital.”

Vacant roles include positions in the emergency department, the high-dependency unit and the acute assessment unit.

The recruitment team is working hard to fill the current vacancies in Nelson and Marlborough, Sandy says.

“Te Whatu Ora is currently running a global campaign for nurses to work in New Zealand. Te Whatu Ora also has an international recruitment campaign across the health workforce which commenced in late-November 2022.”

The hospital provides lifesaving and urgent medical help to patients in Marlborough.

While many of the nurses on staff have been there for decades, others are more recent additions.

Sandy says she hopes the staff may return to the hospital once they have “spread their wings.

“Our experience shows that often nurses will return home after spreading their wings further afield.

“We are very thankful for their service to our community while they were with us in Wairau Hospital.”