Two unions representing healthcare workers have hit back at the Ministry of Health's announcement that critical workers can return to work six days after being diagnosed with the virus if they have two negative rapid antigen tests.
A nurse in PPE. Photo: 123RF
Alternatively to the earlier return to work, infected staff could work on a ward where all other patients already have Covid-19, the ministry said.
The nurses union said it was just another desperate attempt to address the nursing crisis.
Nurses Organisation kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said even though nurses could refuse to work if they were mildly symptomatic, many would feel pressure to go in and support their colleagues.
"Only individuals can judge how unwell they are, and we really encourage nurses to be careful in what they commit to as symptoms can change very rapidly. They need to put their own wellbeing first," Nuku said.
"And the DHBs must recognise their obligations to protect staff and the community and should be looking for extra ways to support and recognise nurses who agree to take on this additional burden."
While health authorities were assuring people that they were prepared for the Omicron influx - asking Covid-19-positive nurses to work while unwell showed they were not, she said.
"We keep hearing from the top that things are fine and that hospitals are prepared, but those on the coal face say this is absolutely not true, and Covid-positive nurses being asked to work while unwell is clear proof of that."
Nuku said understaffing in the nursing sector was only going to get worse and called on the government to take urgent action to attract both newly trained nurses and those who had left the workforce.
File photo: New Zealand Nurses Organisation kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku Photo: Nick Tapp
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) executive director Sarah Dalton said staffing shortages were exacerbating long-term cultural issues in the workforce such as presenteeism and burnout.
"Our members have a keen sense of duty. They don't like to let their colleagues down or see patients miss out on treatment.
"While the Ministry of Health has issued specific criteria and has emphasised that staff must agree to return to work and should not feel pressured, the reality might be quite different."
The rules were also contrary to general advice on recovering from Covid-19, Dalton said.
"From all the evidence, anyone who has had Covid should have time to properly rest and recover," she said.
"We acknowledge that special circumstances call for special measures in a pandemic, but these rules send the wrong message about looking after the health and wellbeing of our health workers."
ASMS research showed 80 percent of senior doctors routinely worked through illness and one in two experienced burnout.
There were 756 people in hospital with Covid-19 today, according to Ministry of Health figures.