A call to action, as Gisborne hospital staff shortages become even more critical

The region's been struggling with recruitment - especially of senior doctors.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive director Sarah Dalton says money is needed to keep staff, adding they raised concerns when vacancies reached 35-percent last year.

She says they're now at 44-percent.

Dalton says patients are now having to be flown out of Gisborne for treatment.