An injection of nurse practitioners into cancer care could help alleviate pressure on New Zealand’s severely stretched cancer workforce.

Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre clinical leader associate professor John Carter has called for more NPs to ease the stress on those in cancer care.

Associate professor Carter said the country’s cancer workforce was suffering due to burnout, staff attrition and an increasing demand for services.

New Zealand has no NPs in cancer care but does have two NPs in palliative care.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has backed his call, saying NPs and other nurses working in advanced practice roles could provide another solution to improving cancer care.

NZNO cancer nurses’ group chair Wendy Thomas said there was a trend internationally to make better use of NPs.

"We agree with associate professor Carter that better use of NPs could ameliorate the stress on the total cancer workforce," she said.

Ms Thomas said more support from the government, the Ministries of Health and Education and district health boards was needed to support the development and continuation of NPs in the cancer field.

"Nurse practitioners specialising in cancer care in other countries make significant contributions to improving access to care for patients," she said.

"New Zealand needs to develop, value and integrate NPs into cancer health services.

"Nurse practitioners have the education, research expertise and assessment skills to provide a rangeof care options for patients and support doctors in managing the ever-increasing demands which are leading to a severely stretched cancer workforce."