40084 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

40084 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Does the Minister agree with the statement ‘Unbudgeted Care Capacity and Demand Management costs resulting in payment of higher-than-budgeted ordinary hours for nursing are the largest risk to achieving the desired surplus’ in Te Whatu Ora’s Quarter 3 Performance Report’ and how does he reconcile this rhetoric with the health workforce crisis we are currently facing?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that our hospitals have faced major cost pressures this year, including an increase in staffing hours worked. Safe staffing is a constant balance of sufficient staff, correct skill mix, and levels of clinical demand on staff that can fluctuate significantly.