Health NZ Admits It Can't Afford to Employ All Nurses Seeking Work

New Zealand's health sector is facing a growing crisis as Health NZ, the government agency responsible for managing public hospital staffing, has admitted that it cannot afford to employ all the nurses who are eager to work in the public system. Despite having more than enough qualified nurses ready to take up positions, financial constraints have limited the number of hires, leaving many graduates and students feeling 'failed' by the system.

According to Health NZ, only 45 percent of mid-year nursing graduates have been employed through its Advanced Choice of Employment Mid-Year matching process. Out of 722 applicants, just 323 have secured jobs in hospitals. This stark shortfall has led to frustration among nursing students and recent graduates, who argue that the system is failing to provide the necessary support and opportunities for new professionals entering the field.

Meanwhile, over 36,000 nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants are set to strike for 24 hours starting at 9am, protesting not only over pay disputes but also over the ongoing issues of staff shortages and unsafe working conditions. The strike is a clear sign of the deepening tensions between healthcare workers and the government, as the sector grapples with the dual challenges of financial limitations and staffing needs.

Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Health NZ's acting clinical director, acknowledged the difficult situation and emphasized that the agency is working to achieve safe staffing levels wherever possible. However, she also noted that the current environment is fiscally constrained and that safe staffing involves more than just the number of nurses—it includes all the professionals involved in patient care.

“We're all in a fiscally constrained environment,” Stokes-Lampard said during an interview. “Health NZ is fortunate at the moment we have plenty of nurses ready to work with us and we are keen to employ them where we can. What we need to do is look at our staffing levels in the round, it's not just about nursing, safe staffing is about everybody who delivers care for patients.”

While Health NZ has expressed its commitment to using its available resources effectively, the current reality is that the system is struggling to keep up with the demand for skilled healthcare professionals. This has led to a growing sense of frustration among nurses, who feel that their contributions are not being adequately recognized or supported.

As the situation continues to unfold, the challenge for Health NZ remains clear: to find a balance between financial responsibility and the urgent need for adequate staffing in the healthcare sector. With nurses and other healthcare workers walking off the job in protest, the pressure is mounting for a resolution that addresses both the pay and staffing issues that have brought the system to a tipping point.