Capital Coast Health chief Margot Mains admits Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit is in crisis, but says the management has plans to fix the problems.
They include a big pay rise for intensive care nurses and introducing patient consent forms so that people are aware of the risks associated with lack of intensive care beds.
However, Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson says the idea of patient consent forms is misconceived.
"The focus needs to be on addressing the staff shortages rather than the introduction of new documentation."
The unit, short of 20 nurses, has come under fire from patients and hospital staff in the past few months. It has been forced to cancel dozens of operations and transfer patients to other hospitals.
Surgeons have demanded legal immunity from medical misadventure claims and disciplinary action because, they say, the nursing shortage is endangering patients.
Capital Coast plans to spend $500,000 on pay rises and to provide more education and training for intensive care nurses. Nurses have been offered a 7 per cent pay rise.
- NZPA
Health chief admits crisis at Wellington Hospital
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