There's fears St John's cutting of community programmes will put more pressure on health workers.

The organisation's new community health direction will see the Therapy Pets and Hospital Volunteers and Community Carers programmes wrap up by next June.

NZNO President Anne Daniels says logic suggests these cuts have been made due to declining funding.

"Even though these volunteers don't get paid, there is an infrastructure cost. And like everybody these days, funding is less than it should be - and I suspect that's the same for St John. But I can't say, hand on heart, that I know that for a fact."

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