New Zealand has only a third of the cardiologists it needs, report finds

New Zealand’s cardiology workforce is in deep crisis, with staffing levels far below international standards and entire regions without access to specialist cardiac care.

A new report, commissioned by The Heart of Aotearoa – Kia Manawanui Trust and prepared by University of Otago, reveals that New Zealand has 32.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) cardiologists per million people – less than a third of the average cardiologist density reported by the European Society of Cardiology, which sits at 95 per million people. 

Only Auckland came close to meeting that benchmark, with 96.3 cardiologists per million. Most other regions fall dangerously short. 

Trust Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says these numbers expose the fragility of cardiac care in New Zealand.

“The current workforce is dangerously thin – we are operating with a third of the specialist workforce we actually need.

“That’s not just inadequate – it’s reckless.”

According to Ministry of Health data, there are no cardiac staff in the Wairarapa or Whanganui health districts, no cardiologists or sonographers/cardiac physiologists in Lakes, West Coast, or South Canterbury, and no cardiologists in Tairāwhiti.

Contrary to the Ministry’s data, the Medical Council Workforce Survey showed about 56 FTE cardiologists per million people. It also revealed 2.2 FTEs in Lakes, 1.4 FTEs in Taranaki, and 0.4 FTEs in Tairāwhiti.

The discrepancy in the data is a serious concern, Ms Harding says.

“How can the Ministry solve a staffing crisis when it doesn’t even have a clear picture of where staff are or how many exist?”

The Government needs to urgently prioritise the recruitment of cardiac staff across the country, especially in regions with high health needs and severe service shortfalls, Ms Harding says.

Trust Medical Director Dr Sarah Fairley, and Wellington-based cardiologist, says the failure to replace staff promptly compounds the crisis.

“There’s currently no mandate requiring hospitals to fill vacancies quickly.

“What we need is a system-wide directive for hospital CEOs to approve the replacement of cardiac staff and advertise those roles within two weeks, and we want the Health Minister to direct this” she says.

“That would prevent dangerous delays in care delivery and reduce burnout among existing staff.”

Ms Harding says it’s no longer possible to blame this crisis on ignorance.

“We know the problem, and we know the solution. What’s missing is action and funding.

“Until that arrives, New Zealanders will continue to suffer – and die – needlessly.”