Recruitment for new clinical roles is underway at Nelson Hospital

A four month long review found problems with leadership and severe understaffing are causing delayed care for hundreds of patients.

Health New Zealand says the first tranche of roles were approved mid last month and recruitment for 12 permanent full-time junior medical roles has already started.

The roles include five anaesthetic registrars, six internal medicine registrars and one orthopaedic registrar.

They're expected to start by the end of January.