Medical specialists up and down the country say they are sick and tired of hearing excuses.

Ongoing staffing surveys now estimate the shortage of medical specialists in DHBs to be around 24 percent nationwide.

They also reveal a staggering 25 percent intend to leave public hospital employment over the next five years.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Dr Ian Powell told Mike Hosking extra funding shouldn't be too much to ask, given the government's 7.5 billion dollar surplus.

He says if they care about their workforce, patients and the standard of care, then they will act.

"The situation is dangerous for both patients and hospital specialists. It increases the risk of errors and the likelihood patients will be turned away when accessing care."

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