There are fears a nationwide staffing crisis is looming in the primary health care sector.

A recent survey by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation has found 70 percent of respondents are considering leaving the sector because of higher pay elsewhere, such as at services run by DHBs.

From May this year, an experienced nurse covered by the Multi-Employer Collective Agreement will be paid ten percent less than an experienced nurse in a DHB.

Industrial Advisor Chris Wilson told Mike Hosking  it's not only impacting the workload of nurses,  but the quality of care they're able to provide.

"The lack of pay parity is simply not fair. The nurses share similar qualifications and the work they do is no less complex."

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