Starship child cancer treatments delayed up to seven days in nurse shortage
Some chemotherapy and bone marrow treatments at Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital were delayed by up to seven days because of nurse shortages.
Health Minister Simeon Brown confirmed the delays on 15 October 2026. He said treatments were delayed, not suspended, after reports from nurses of a week-long suspension. Kaitiaki
The delays affected families including Tanya Lapu'aho, whose two-and-a-half-year-old son was diagnosed in January with high-risk neuroblastoma. Her son has had multiple stays at Starship for rounds of chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants. RNZ
Lapu'aho said his second bone marrow transplant was put back by at least a week because there were not enough specialist nurses. Health NZ confirmed some treatments at Starship were being rescheduled because of nursing shortages.
Health NZ data showed 86 percent of shifts on Starship's Haematology/Oncology Ward were understaffed during August. Twenty cycles of chemotherapy were delayed over the past four months because of lack of staff.
Brown said all eight vacant paediatric haematology/oncology roles had been filled or recruited for. Health NZ said the cancer ward was three months away from being fully staffed, with seven nurses due to start over that period. A spokesperson in Brown's office denied any hiring freeze and said vacancies resulted from natural attrition such as parental leave and retirement.
Nurses Organisation Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said the ward had been known to be understaffed for months. The Tertiary Education Commission told training organisations to limit the number of nurses trained next year due to a shortage of student nursing placement spots.
