Union claims understaffing for hospital pharmacies

A union representing hospital based pharmacy workers says services are being kept afloat by the goodwill of its members - because of serious understaffing. APEX claims Te Whatu Ora is not replacing workers who resign or retire and it's also struggling to fill existing vacancies because of the exodus of pharmacists moving overseas. Health NZ declined our request for an interview, saying they have exceeded recruitment expectations across various professions. The union's Senior Advocate Denise Tairua spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.