New data shows hospitals were, on average, 587 nurses short every shift last year. 

A Nurses Organisation Infometrics report analysed Te Whatu Ora data from 1.69 million shifts from 2022 to 2024 in 59 public hospitals. 

Last year saw a slight improvement on 2023, when the shortage averaged 684 nurses per shift. 

Former Health New Zealand Chair Rob Campbell told Mike Hosking it confirms that issues facing the health system are dire. 

He says nurses have had to face people telling them they're wrong about the issues, but now it's clear they aren't. 

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