Medical staff at Burwood Hospital have only just been given access to the highest level of face masks and visors - despite caring for the most Covid-19 cases of any hospital.
Six people from the Rosewood Rest Home have died at Burwood, and eight are still being cared for there. Health authorities have consistently said the workers have had access to the right personal protective equipment.
The hospital's general manager, Dan Coward, told RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn access to the higher level equipment was made only yesterday.
The Nurse's Organisation says despite the guidelines, health staff should always have been able to make their own decisions about what they needed to wear to stay safe.
It says the full face visor is particularly important when dealing with advanced dementia patients.
