A veteran ward nurse says her workload has become so great she has no choice but to cut corners, risking patients’ health in the process.

“You think, ok, what short cuts can I take?” she said. “You think, well that (patient) had a shower yesterday, I’ll just hand wash them. But if they have a wound on their leg you just don’t get to it.

“I’ve learnt to speak up and say I can’t manage this patient load but sometimes they just say ‘well look, just do your best because we haven’t been able to find anyone else’... The end result is that you’re going to miss something and someone will die.”

Morale is at rock bottom at the hospital, according to six nurses who were interviewed by The Transcontinental.

While hospital director Ros McRae insists staffing levels “are set to guarantee service and safety”, the nurses say the situation is so bad they have taken the unprecedented step of talking to the media.

For full details see this week's edition of the Transcontinental