Psychiatric nurses fear 'timebomb' as beds withdrawn

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

Three beds for mental health patients in Taharoto, the acute unit at North Shore Hospital, have been closed because staff shortages have worsened.

Staff say space was provided for three new beds, which would have taken the number to 41, but they have never been used because of the shortage of permanent nurses.

Last Tuesday, Waitemata District Health Board managers decided to close another three beds temporarily, reducing the number to 35.

"The situation is quite critical at the moment," said Richard Schulman, a Public Service Association delegate and Taharoto nurse.

Most patients now had to be experiencing more severe symptoms than usual to be admitted, he said.

"We're running on a knife-edge. We're not saying a disaster may happen, we're saying when is a disaster going to happen. It's just like sitting on a timebomb."

Waitemata's psychiatric nurses have repeatedly made similar warnings to the Herald over the past 18 months because of shortages of beds and staff. They routinely recall the 1999 murder-suicide by Lachlan Jones, who was under the care of a Waitemata community team.

In June, the Waitakere police stopped allowing their cells to be used as an overflow for mental health units, increasing pressure on the health board's services.

Mr Schulman said some nurses were working large amounts of overtime - one worked three 17-hour days in a row - to help address the staff shortage. They were paid higher rates for overtime, but it increased risks.

Waitemata spokeswoman Caroline Mackersey said the health board was advertising nationally and overseas for staff.

Three British recruits could not start work yet because of a delay in completing their registration with the Nursing Council.

Acting mental health manager Jenny Wolf said Taharoto had sufficient staff, but had been forced to use too high a proportion of casuals to plug gaps.

This had decreased the safety margin so it was decided to reduce the number of patients.

Asked how the unit would cope with fewer beds, she said that it would prioritise which patients were admitted.