Closed borders are making it difficult for our hospitals to bring on internationally sought-after nurses to increase ICU capacity. 

Some critical care nurses who are already in New Zealand on visas, are also leaving for much higher paid jobs in Australia. 

The Government has increased funding and purchased more equipment, but a shortage of highly-trained nurses is preventing day-to-day ICU capacity from being increased. 

College of Intensive Care Medicine Chair Andrew Stapleton told Mike Hosking it's incredibly frustrating. 

"They’re currently not even on the critical skills shortage list, which I don't understand. bringing them here is difficult, their partners can't come easily.” 

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