Auckland hospital has hit a major setback in its attempt to clear Covid-19 surgical backlogs - it doesn't have enough theatre nurses.
At least one operating theatre a day is sitting empty because there are not enough nurses to staff it.
Thousands of Aucklanders had surgery delayed across the region during the Omicron outbreak and district health boards are trying to catch up.
Auckland DHB would not be interviewed.
But Nurses' Organisation president Anne Daniels told health correspondent Rowan Quinn theatre nurses are highly skilled and specialised, and work needs to start now to solve the problem.
