Starship children's cancer treatments delayed due to nursing shortages

Some cancer treatments for children at Starship Hospital in Auckland have been rescheduled due to nursing staff shortages. Health Minister Simeon Brown confirmed that a handful of chemotherapy sessions were delayed by up to seven days and two bone marrow transplants were moved slightly. Health New Zealand reported that 20 chemotherapy cycles have been delayed over the last four months.

The hospital's paediatric haematology/oncology service is managing shortages alongside high demand and clinical complexity. Dr Greg Williams, Starship’s director of medical and community, stated that decisions to reschedule were based on clinical need to ensure services remain safe and within capacity. To support the ward, staff from other parts of Starship and Auckland City Hospital are being utilised.

Nursing shortages have impacted staffing levels, with 85% of shifts in the oncology ward being understaffed in August. In July, vacancies in the ward reached 8.82 full-time equivalent roles, meaning the unit was down approximately one in five nurses. While the Health Minister described the delays as "minor", the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) argued that the distinction between postponed and suspended services is mere semantics for affected families.

Health New Zealand stated that vacancies are the result of natural attrition, such as retirement and parental leave, and denied a hiring freeze. The hospital is currently recruiting experienced and new graduate nurses, with 6.7 full-time equivalent nurses expected to start by December or January.

How it developed

• Thu 15 Oct, 5:22pmHealth New Zealand confirmed that 20 chemotherapy cycles were delayed over the past four months and that 6.7 full-time equivalent nurses are expected to start by December or January.
• Fri 16 Oct, 8:40amA mother reported that her toddler's bone marrow transplant was delayed by at least a week and described difficulties accessing timely pain relief due to staffing levels.

Where reports differ

• Some reports suggest treatments were suspended, while the Health Minister and Health NZ stated they were only rescheduled or postponed

Compiled from reports by 1News, Stuff, RNZ, Otago Daily Times, NZ Herald, The Post and The Press.