6 Apr 2016

Protest marks 'missing' health workers

11:49 am on 6 April 2016

Public health workers have protested outside Auckland City Hospital at what they say is understaffing at the city's DHBs.

Protesters placed silhouettes representing staff they say were planned for by Auckland's three DHBs but not employed

Protesters placed silhouettes representing staff they say were planned for by Auckland's three DHBs but not employed. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly

They put up silhouettes representing what they said were 642 missing public health workers.

They include doctors, nurses, allied health, support and management staff who were planned for but not employed at Auckland's three DHBs in the first seven months of the current financial year.

Mental health worker and Public Service Association staff representative Andy Colwell said the cutouts aimed to show people how bad understaffing and overwork had become.

Mr Colwell said the understaffing went back several years and was due to underfunding of $1.7 billion.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs