The traditional care model at Nelson Hospital - is no longer fit for purpose

A Health New Zealand review has revealed a list of challenges for the hospital - from recruiting delays to ageing infrastructure.

Senior staff raised concerns this year that inadequate staffing was endangering patients' lives.

Health NZ National Chief Medical Officer, Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, says there need to be more junior doctors - as it's no longer suitable for care to be delivered primarily by seniors.

She says the system needs to evolve as the population grows and ages.