Malcolm Mulholland: Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair on the data showing almost a quarter of nurse shifts were understaffed

Scepticism as Health New Zealand claims staffing levels may not be as bleak as they look. 

The agency's released data across almost 615 wards last year, showing for 740-thousand shifts, around a quarter were below the target level at some point. 

Chief Nurse Nadine Gray says the figures could represent five minutes or less of under-resourcing across an eight hour shift. 

But Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair Malcolm Mulholland told Ryan Bridge he tends to believe the Nurses Organisation, which is concerned patients' needs aren't being met. 

He says anyone who's spent time in hospitals lately will know that staff are overrun. 

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