Taupō Hospital Faces Potential Closure as Staff Shortages Reach Crisis Levels

Amid a growing crisis in rural healthcare, clinicians at Taupō Hospital are preparing contingency plans for an emergency shutdown due to severe staffing shortages. The hospital, which serves over 40,000 residents in a major tourist region, is struggling to attract and retain senior doctors, leaving it vulnerable to a complete shutdown if the situation is not addressed.

The hospital currently has only 3.3 full-time-equivalent senior doctors working permanently out of nine funded positions, with one senior doctor on duty overnight to cover the emergency department and general ward. With the reliance on locums and permanent staff taking on excessive night and weekend shifts, the pressure on the healthcare system is mounting.

RNZ has obtained a copy of the Escalation and Closure Plan, which outlines scenarios where the hospital could be forced to close if staffing gaps cannot be filled. The plan includes options such as transferring patients to Rotorua Hospital, relying on telehealth, or closing the emergency department altogether. While no closures have occurred yet, the plan has been developed as a precautionary measure.

Regional deputy chief executive Cath Cronin, who oversees the hospital, has dismissed the idea of closure, stating that her focus is on keeping the hospital open. However, she admitted that the situation is challenging, particularly during winter, when staff shortages and sick leave further strain the system.

Despite Cronin’s reassurances, the hospital has faced multiple unstaffed shifts in the past, with clinicians warning that the current model is unsustainable. A February memo from senior clinical staff highlighted the difficulty in securing locums and the risk of being unable to cover every shift in the emergency department and inpatient ward.

The memo outlined six possible scenarios, including closing the emergency department, using telehealth, or relying on temporary staff. Each scenario carries significant risks, including the potential for patients in Taupō to lose access to emergency care and for the birthing unit to be left without onsite support.

Health NZ spent $1.29 million on locums for Taupō Hospital in the 2023-24 financial year, raising concerns about the overreliance on temporary staff. Rural hospital medicine specialist Ralston D'Souza, the new clinical lead, acknowledged that staffing shortages are not new but stressed the need for a sustainable solution.

Malcolm Mulholland of Patient Voice Aotearoa expressed concern over the possibility of a hospital closure in a region with no alternative healthcare facilities. Advocacy groups and community members are urging the government to address the long-term staffing crisis in rural hospitals.

With two additional junior doctors set to join in January, the hospital is cautiously optimistic about the future. However, the long-term solution will depend on attracting and retaining permanent staff, improving working conditions, and ensuring that funding is used to support the healthcare system rather than relying on costly locum arrangements.

As the crisis continues, the situation in Taupō highlights the broader challenges facing rural healthcare in New Zealand. Without immediate action, the risk of a hospital closure—and the impact on the community—remains very real.