53964 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

53964 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: How many “shifts below target” were reported in the months of May, June and July 2024 for the following wards: Dunedin Hospital Ward 8C, Palmerston North Regional Hospital MC W23 RCTS, Auckland Hospital Ward 64, Auckland Hospital Motutapu Ward, Wellington Regional Hospital Ward 5 North Ward – Cancer, Haematology and Renal, Christchurch Hospital Ward B5 (Oncology), Waikato Hospital Ward M05 Haematology, Oncology?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that Shifts Below Target (SBT) is an end of shift measure of variance between care hours required versus care hours available. Without clinical judgement and other key variance indicators used in the Care Capacity Demand Management (CCDM) Variance Response Management system, SBT does not translate to an indicator of unsafe staffing, or as a measure of capacity to deploy staff. It is possible for shifts with a positive care hours variance to still be 'unsafe' (e.g., due to low skills mix on shift); conversely a SBT measure can still represent a clinically safe shift (i.e., experienced staff who do not require support). I am further advised that wards such as these provide highly specialised care, and so their staff require highly specialised clinical skill sets. As a result, system solutions to staffing deficits, such as ’variance response management’ (staff redeployment), cannot be deployed easily to these wards. Instead, these areas are typically managed by having their own pool of former or part-time staff who are willing to pick up extra shifts. The Care Capacity Demand Management programme supports these wards by typically having a lower tolerance of deficits (i.e., the base planned roster is more robust).