A North Shore Hospital is opening - without the staff or money to care for extra surgery patients.

The two-storey Tōtara Haumaru has eight surgical theatres, an endoscopy suite and 150 beds.

But Health New Zealand delayed its opening in April, saying it hadn't determined an operating budget, nor staff to run it.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Chief Executive, Sarah Dalton, says problems won't ease anytime soon.

"They'll say it's not a freeze, but it's as close as you can get without seeing ice. So recruitment has really slowed down and money is very tight."

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