Minister admits health system in crisis amid rural hospital staff shortages

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30 Jul 2024

NZ Herald

The Health Minister admits the public health system is still in “crisis” as rural hospitals struggle with staff shortages and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora’s financial position comes under further scrutiny.

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti promises Health New Zealand is working on how to address problems at Northland’s Dargaville Hospital, which reportedly has no doctors on site overnight and is resorting to telehealth services and transporting patients to Whangārei Hospital.

It comes as Porirua’s Kenepuru Hospital also provides telehealth services overnight when doctors aren’t available, RNZ reported.

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