The Wellington Hospital gynaecology ward that is losing beds to its Emergency Department in a trial, was already short-staffed more than a quarter of all shifts, figures obtained by NZNO show.
It has been revealed that Wellington Hospital is cutting beds from its maternity and gynaecology wards in a trial designed to make more room for patients from its overcrowded Emergency Department (ED).
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōputanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) has obtained figures under the Official Information Act showing safe staffing levels identified by the Care Capacity Demand Management (CCDM) programme from January to October last year.
NZNO delegate Michelle Cotton says the figures show the gynaecology ward was already short staffed 27% of all shifts.
"That means there are not enough nurses already for more than a quarter of all shifts.
"NZNO is concerned this trail is aimed at meeting the Coalition Government’s arbitrary and unfunded six-hour wait time target for EDs," she says.
"This trial is starting after the only gynaecological oncologist at Wellington Hospital retired and wasn’t replaced. This is partly the cause of empty beds because those women are being treated in Christchurch.
"The trial requires the ante and postnatal services to be reduced from three pods to two. There will be less options for partners to stay and more women will be required to share rooms.
"This trail is putting the health care of women and their newborn babies at risk. They deserve better at this crucial time in their lives," Michelle Cotton says.