The low level of registrars, especially on night and weekend shifts, has caused concern among staff about workloads and the risk of multiple incidents occurring at the same time, the Otago Daily Times understands.
Interim Southern hospital and specialist services lead Hamish Brown said HNZ was reviewing paediatric and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staffing requirements.
"A business case is currently being developed in support of increasing the number of paediatric registrars and the overall capacity in the NICU."
There were 9.7 full-time equivalent registrars working in these locations at present, while 93.5 full-time equivalent registrars worked throughout the hospital in several wards and departments.
The hospital had 16 resourced paediatric beds and the NICU had five intensive care cots and 11 special care cots, he said.
He did not answer questions on whether the level of staffing was dangerous.
"Our patients and their whānau are our highest priority," he said.
A report on the situation aimed at securing more funding was withheld by HNZ when requested under the Official Information Act.
It was necessary to withhold the information to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through free and frank expression of opinions, HNZ said.
In a brief summary of the contents of the documents, HNZ said Southern was proposing a new model of care for staffing in the paediatric ward and the NICU.
"The draft document sets out the background of the current paediatric and neonatal intensive care unit service and future planning to safely provide care to our patients and their whanau.
"This is in line with the new Dunedin hospital build and factors in population growth and requirements for care."
