He's not going to fix everything in the first budget, but Health Minister David Clark is promising his government is prioritising resourcing the health system.

It comes after many midwives posted stories of professional isolation, burnout and attrition on Facebook.

He says his Government is making fixing the under-resourced health system a priority but concedes they won't be able to fix everything in their first budget.

Clark told Mike Hosking it's not just about midwives' pay, and that the model where midwives are on call for long hours and hold huge case loads needs to be looked at.

"A study is going to be published in a British medical journal shortly that asks what is the right case load for midwifes. We need to look at the way they interact with Plunket, with primary care, with GPs, and ask what is the safest way of doing this?"

He says independent midwives haven't had the same pay rises as those working for DHBs, saying they are "stretched".

Clark says it's not all about pay - it's also about workloads and ensuring midwives are working with other care providers to ensure mothers and babies are safe and midwives feel supported.

He says that independent midwives who've told him stories of being overworked and underpaid.

LISTEN TO DAVID CLARK TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE