Hundreds form human chain outside Palmerston North Hospital

Workers rally against job shortages. Photo / Massive 

Over 250 people formed a human chain outside Palmerston North Hospital, rallying in support of the hospital’s overworked and understaffed healthcare workers.  

The rally on March 30th, was organised by Patient Voice Aotearoa chairperson Malcolm Mulholland, who told the crowd the hospital’s situation was “pretty dire".  

Palmerston North Hospital is struggling with severe understaffing, leaving doctors and nurses overworked and burnt out.  

With no after-hours clinic open past 8 p.m., the emergency room is the community’s only option for medical care — yet overcrowding has at times forced it to turn patients away. 

“There are shortages in endoscopy, psychiatry, obstetrics, gynaecology, cardiology, oncology, ENT, haematology, rheumatology, and radiology,” Mulholland said.  

Some services are under review, including stroke care.  

“If someone in our community suffers a stroke, what kind of service will be available to them?” he asked. 

Laura, a mother whose daughter had been in Palmerston North Hospital for 161 days, shared her struggles. With district nurses only visiting once a week, she didn't believe there’s enough staff to provide adequate care.  

“Even though my daughter’s got a higher complex health condition, as a mum, I’m the one that has to make up medication and administrate it,” Laura said.  

Calling on the government to step up, she warned, “When nurses are stressed, that’s when mistakes happen. They need help.” 

Deputy mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb also attended, voicing her concern. “We need to care about this beautiful hospital and the wonderful people who are in there,” she told the crowd.  

Marshall-Lobb urged attendees to think critically about the national state of the country’s healthcare.  

She clarified that the demonstration was not a protest, “It's to show our love and support for the staff there who work really hard, for the patients, for their families, because you can't separate the patient from the families, everyone here, and for those behind us who are waiting to get in.” 

“We know what an efficient hospital should be. And so really, this is a message to all of them to say, we're here to support you.” 

Three unions — the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, and E tū — backed the protest. 

Massive spoke to Jane Swift, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s national delegate for the Mid Central region, about the protest’s goals. 

Swift said, “People need to have quick access, so things are picked up and treated before they become more sinister.” 

“Ultimately, we’re here as workers, as members, and we’re also part of the community.”  

ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton echoed these concerns.  

She told the crowd, “We are standing here to support the people in the hospital, the people who need the care from this hospital, the people who provide the care in the hospital, but also for the people who should be in the hospital but can’t be.” 

The Ministry of Health was approached for comment, however, did not provide any.