Staff shortages have left health workers in a situation “beyond a crisis”, according to a front line staff member from the Waikato DHB.

The whistleblower, who spoke to Stuff on the condition they were not identified in any way over fears for their job, said they were frustrated at recent comments made by Health Minister Andrew Little.

Last Friday, at a visit to a methamphetamine harm reduction programme in Murupara, Little acknowledged hospitals were under significant pressure, but said “the system as a whole is coping”.

Those comments also came in the wake of a woman dying after leaving Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital because of the long wait time.

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Hospitals are “not coping at all”, the Waikato DHB staffer said.

“Actually we’re beyond a crisis, we’re broken.

“The Minister and the Prime Minister, they’re not acknowledging it.”

They said that, at present, there were “just a lot of exhausted, disillusioned staff”.

Health Minister Andrew Little has announced a 'high power taskforce' tasked with clearing the long hospital backlogs.

“Staff are tired. It’s the lack of acknowledgement and the state of the hospitals.”

They said the key issues causing stress to the health system were ...

Read Full Story: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/129048804/beyond-a-crisis-whistleblow...