Rotorua Hospital make staff redundant in spite of shortages

Rotorua Hospital has made four nurse supervisors redundant, despite being short of 36 nurses and being accused of overloading its staff with work.

The four after-hours nursing managers, who between them have more than a century of nursing experience, were made redundant on July 22.

A review of after-hours management found their positions did not "meet the needs of the service."

It is understood that only one of the nurses has taken up an alternative nursing role within Lakeland Health.

The hospital has had to cancel some non-urgent surgery and selectively "close" beds in order to cope with staff shortages.

The shortages have been blamed on seasonal difficulties, including staff taking sick leave and holidays, as well as a nationwide shortage of nurses.

A confidential Lakeland Health report dated December 2001 reveals that the "disestablishment" of the four after-hours managers was a preferred solution to a "fragmented" and "less than satisfactory" service.

"Currently the role is dysfunctional, with poor communication channels, poor role delineation, differing management styles, lack of credibility, lack of professionalism and lack of a legitimate leader within the group," the report stated.

It recommended that a duty manager or managers working 12-hour rotating shifts replace the nightshift managers, who worked set shifts.

The replacements have yet to be found, although Lakeland Health has received inquiries.

A number of nurses and ex-nurses have contacted newspapers about the redundancies, following a report last week in which a former nurse slammed the hospital's "diabolical" working conditions and support for staff.

The nurses, all of whom requested not to be named for fear of retribution from Lakeland Health management, said they agreed with their former colleague.

"All the girls are under enormous stress and they will be even worse now the after-hours managers have gone," one said.

"You will need to have very, very experienced people to do their jobs. It's time this was uncovered . . . heads should roll over this."

Lakeland Health general manager Nick Foster said yesterday the restructuring was a necessity for the hospital.

"We are aware of the effects a review process places on affected staff, and appreciate a review is never easy," Mr Foster said.

"On behalf of Lakeland Health I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution made by the after-hours managers to Rotorua Hospital over the years," he said.

Lakeland Health communications officer Sue Wilkie said while 36 nursing positions were vacant as of Monday, a wide range of people had been responding to advertisements.

The Lakes District Health Board had been strongly pushing the lifestyle advantages of the Rotorua region in its promotion, she said.

- NZPA