Just $4 per Kiwi - that's what one of the country's top health leaders has to say of the government's funding for new senior doctors and nurses.
The government today announced it will be funding 50 new senior doctors, and more nurses, to fix critical shortages in rural, mental health, maternity and critical care specialities.
Health New Zealand estimated the new frontline doctors would cost $20 million, depending on the specialities of the doctors and their experience. Funding of $10m will be made available for new nurses. A separate $12m fund is being set up to pay for minor repairs, replacement appliances, and new books and toys for children undergoing treatment.
But the clinical head of Wairarapa Hospital's Emergency Department told Checkpoint that was not enough.
Dr Norman Gray said it only came to an investment of $4 per New Zealander.
Hospitals able to compete for funding for specialists doctors and nurses
"The amount of money is negligible," he told Checkpoint.
"We probably need more like $800 million, not $20 million."
Dr Gray added that the announcement was no different to previous ones.
"They have the right information, the Minister [Shane Reti] and [Health NZ commissioner] Lester Levy - but their response is almost delusional in response to the reality.
"We can't retain people. We can't recruit people. And the amount of money they're talking about is minimalistic compared to the need that the country has."