According to a survey of hospital managers, majority of rural hospitals are significantly short of qualified medical staff.

The Press reported that 29 rural hospitals were included in the survey, which was co-authored by Waikato Clinical School Head Professor Ross Lawrenson. It asked managers to rate the availability of staff. While all said there were problems, many added that shortage of staff was critical.

While, one-third of positions at rural hospitals were vacant, a quarter of positions were taken by locums and 10% had no cover at all, according to the survey.

Prof. Lawrenson said that more than half the doctors had worked extra hours to accommodate the shortage of staff.

Lawrenson said, "There are risks from having a large turnover of locums and international medical graduates in the quality of care that's being provided".

However, better training and package, and a deduction in on-call demands were suggested to resolve the current problems.

Lawrenson added that plans including training programs and bonding initiatives that were launched recently by the Government were helping.

Health Minister, Tony Ryall said that work on trying to address the "quite serious workforce crisis" was continuing, but a considerable increase in funds was doubtful.