Healthcare Assistants Face Increasing Violence

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation reports that healthcare assistants are facing physical and sexual assaults due to unsafe "patient watch" ratios.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 5:42 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Danger of 1:3 Patient Watch Ratios

At the heart of the dispute is the current practice of assigning a single HCA to monitor three at-risk patients simultaneously. The union argues this ratio is "inherently unsafe," particularly when patients are located in separate rooms. In such scenarios, a single staff member cannot physically prevent falls, the removal of essential medical lines, or self-harm. According to delegate Al Dietschin, incidents of patient harm—including falls and even an attempted suicide—have been directly linked to these "cohort watch" shortages.

Urgent Meeting Requested with Health New Zealand

Union delegates are scheduled to meet with Te Whatu Ora Waitaha (Health New Zealand Canterbury) this Friday to address these critical concerns. The union's letter to the board emphasizes that with winter approaching, increased patient occupancy will only exacerbate the pressure. HCAs are calling for a significant increase in recruitment and a minimum of two staff members per cohort room to ensure both patient safety and staff protection. Currently, some HCAs report being traumatized and afraid to perform close observations due to previous workplace injuries and burnout.

Health New Zealand’s Response and Mitigation

National Chief Nurse Nadine Gray stated that the safety of patients and staff remains the organization's top priority, though she acknowledged that healthcare settings can be "challenging" and "unpredictable." Health New Zealand highlighted several measures currently in place to mitigate risk, including: