'It's certainly not safe for the patients': Six staff resign from Pahīatua medical centre

Six staff at the Pahīatua Medical Centre have resigned today, amid growing concern around extreme workloads and patient safety.

Almost 5000 patients depend on the clinic in the Tararua district.

But over the past two years, 81 staff have resigned from the Tararua Health Group, alleging unsafe workloads and dangerously long wait times for appointments and tests.

Registered nurse Mark Emmerson resigned along with five of his colleagues today.

He told Checkpoint he was "sick" at the decision, but also "relieved" the matter had come to the nation's attention.

"As nurses, we try. We will run ourselves ragged until to get the job done. But it's certainly not safe for the patients. It's not safe for the staff psychologically."

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