Nursing shortages are affecting aged care in Wānaka, with the Enliven Wānaka manager and head nurse having to sleep over and doing double shifts because of a lack of staff. 

Presbyterian Support (PSO) CEO and Enliven Services acting director Jo Rowe said the organisation has made changes at both Enliven care homes in Wānaka (Aspiring and Elmslie House) so that nursing staff numbers are concentrated at Aspiring, where more residents need hospital and dementia level care. 

“These changes are helping relieve some pressure, but the bigger picture remains grim. New Zealand needs more nurses,” she said.

Jo said that while the worldwide nursing shortage continues to affect the health system in New Zealand, it’s particularly challenging in the aged care sector, where not-for-profit organisations like PSO and small providers “can’t compete” with the wages paid by Te Whatu Ora.

“New Zealand is still 4,000 nurses short, and while some nurses are beginning to trickle in from overseas, the rate at which they are arriving means the shortage will continue for some time, possibly years,” Jo said.

“We have been lobbying hard with the government for changes to immigration that would give overseas nurses immediate NZ residency. Instead, overseas nurses have to apply for a two year work visa, which can take months to approve and doesn’t provide the certainty that nurses and their families need to find NZ an attractive option.

Jo said, on top of wage disparity, staff in Wānaka face additional hurdles. 

“Finding suitable housing, high rents and the rising cost of living mean that staff can be reluctant to settle or stay in Central Otago.

“In the face of these challenges, our existing staff are going above and beyond to ensure that nursing care continues to be provided to our residents. We acknowledge that this isn’t a sustainable solution and we’re working intensively to try and recruit more nurses domestically and internationally.”