Recruitment for 12 new clinical roles is underway at Nelson Hospital, with further boosts to staffing on the horizon.

In July, Health New Zealand released the full findings of the Clinical Quality and Systems Review into concerns raised at Nelson Hospital.

One of the key recommendations was to increase staff numbers to help manage hospital demand and capacity, create a sustainable clinical workforce and address long-term vacancies in both senior and junior medical roles.

“We know it’s important for our patients to reduce wait times, and we are committed to improving the community’s access to timely, quality healthcare,” says Phil Wheble, Health New Zealand Acting Executive Regional Director for Te Waipounamu

The first tranche of clinical roles was approved mid-August and recruitment for 12 permanent full-time junior medical roles has already started.

“The roles include five anaesthetic registrars, six internal medicine registrars and one orthopaedic registrar,” says Mr Wheble. “Start dates for the new registrars are expected by the end of January 2026, and we look forwarded to welcoming them to the team."

“In the meantime, I want to thank our amazing people who continue to work hard to deliver the best patient care possible,” he says. "We are working with local teams to continue to boost staffing numbers as quickly as we can."

To ensure all recommendation of the Review are carried out, an Implementation Committee has recently been set up. The Committee is chaired by Executive Regional Director for Te Waipounamu, Dr Pete Watson, working alongside regional and local Nelson Marlborough leadership and clinical staff.

As well as overseeing the Reviews’ recommendations, the Committee will set up a number of smaller working groups, which will draw membership from the local Nelson Marlborough leaders, front line clinical and support staff and unions.