A very real indicator of just how badly the lack of staff is affecting the aged care sector.

Staff at aged care facilities are legally required to notify the Director General of Health when there is a situation that could put residents at risk.

It's called a section 31 form. In 2020 there were 260 submissions and in 2021 there were 851.

We are only in September and already this year there have been 2004 submissions - purely because of a lack of staff.

NZ Aged Care Association chief executive Simon Wallace joins me now.

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