Christchurch Hospital asks families to help cover staff shortages

RNZ

19 Jul, 2025 09:58 PM3 mins to read

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Healthcare assistants help monitor people for confusion, delirium or dementia symptoms. Photo / George Heard

By Rachel Graham of RNZ

Relatives of distressed patients at Christchurch Hospital have been asked to come in to help because of a shortage of healthcare assistants.

Information provided by a Christchurch Hospital staff member, who asked not to be named, shows the hospital had so
few healthcare assistants on June 22 that managers were asked to see if patients’ family members could come in to sit with them.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate Al Dietschin said the request related to patient watches, which were usually done by the assistants to monitor people for confusion, delirium or dementia symptoms.

“Essentially being with the patient to keep them safe, to try and de-escalate when they get agitated, to prevent them from hurting themselves through a fall, or interrupting therapy like pulling on IV lines or catheters. It is a role that is very important for patient safety,” he said.