Over 500 nurses needed across NZ
The Labour Government says it has invested more into mental health – including boosting the workforce – than anyone else but critics say staffing shortages have reached ‘‘crisis’’ point.
In the past five years, psychologist vacancies increased by 135% and both psychiatrist and mental health nurse vacancies increased by more than 90%. It comes as an in-patient mental health unit at Christchurch’s Hillmorton Hospital may be closed because it has only half the staff it needs.
The consultation document given to staff in the 15-bed Tipuna ward says there are ‘‘significant, chronic staffing challenges’’ across all areas of the mental health sector but particularly within nursing. Health Minister Andrew Little said the Government had not only increased the number of mental health jobs, it had also invested $1.9 billion into the sector in the past five years.
But National Party MP and mental health spokesperson Matt Doocey said the workforce was in ‘‘crisis’’, and it meant too many people were not getting the treatment they desperately needed.
‘‘I am concerned that the proposal to close a Christchurch mental health unit because of staff shortages could well be signalling the start of something larger.
‘‘I fear there could be many more facilities at risk of closure across the country as vacancy rates in mental health skyrocket.’’
Doocey received data from Little that shows psychiatrist vacancies increased from 75.5 to 154 (104%) between July 2017 and October 1 this year. In the same time, mental health nurse vacancies increased from 266.6 to 511 (92%) and psychologist vacancies increased from 47.8 to 112.56 (135%).
‘‘Labour announced $1.9 billion for mental health after promising to transform the mental health system and you’ve got to ask yourself where has all the money gone and why hasn’t it made a difference,’’ Doocey said.
He wanted nurses put on the immigration tier 1 list, which would allow them to apply for residency straight away, but they were still on the tier 2 list, which required them to work for two years before they could apply for residency. ‘‘It beggars belief that the Government stubbornly refuses to put skilled migrant mental
health nurses on the immigration straight to residence list to prevent bed closures.’’
A Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report released in March found long wait times for young people accessing mental health services. It also found 20% of people were not followed up after leaving hospital, one in six had to be readmitted within 28 days, and the use of compulsory treatment and solitary confinement was higher for Mā ori than for other groups.
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said the staff shortage meant ‘‘ridiculous’’ wait times and tougher criteria to be seen. ‘‘The crisis in mental health is not new, it’s been rolling and building for several decades and because of this there is no quick fix or solution. Labour and National can both look each other in the eye and blame each other because they are both to blame.’’
The Government should invest in community peer-led services that could help prevent people needing specialist care, he said.
‘‘Politicians like to quote big numbers but $1.9b is an increase of 18% when demand has grown by 35%, so it was inadequate right off the bat. It really isn’t enough.’’
Little said the global shortage of health workers was decades in the making. He said adding nurses to the fast track residency list did not necessarily mean more would come, because many arrived on visitor’s visas and had to do a mandatory competency programme before being allowed to work.