Winter health plan fails to address worker shortages, burnout, frontline staff say

Photo: LDR / Jarred WilliamsonTe Whatu Ora's new winter health plan fails to address workforce shortages and staff burnout, frontline healthcare workers say. A nurse from the hospital's ED agreed chronic workforce shortages would prevent many of the proposals ever working. In February, Te Whatu Ora identified Middlemore Hospital as one of eight national 'hotspots' needing extra support before the winter flu season. Former chairperson Rob Campbell admitted the workforce shortages plaguing Middlemore's ED would not be addressed in time for the flu season. "We know that pressure from shortages across our workforce is being felt on the frontlines of our health system.