Doctors and nurses with expired practicing certificates are being asked to register their interest in working across Auckland's three DHBs as part of the coronavirus response. (generic photo)

District health boards are seeking health staff with expired practicing certificates and medical students to join the fight against coronavirus.

The Northern Regional Alliance - Auckland's three DHBs: Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitematā - has circulated a form asking for people to register their interest to work, should vacancies arise.

It has options for doctors and nurses who do not have current practicing certificates, as well as medical and nursing students.

As well as asking medical staff, such as lab workers and midwives to register, DHBs are seeking interest from cleaners, security and admin staff, and plumbers and electricians.

The workforce registration form asked people to "help us fight Covid-19".

It stated the main areas of need in the region were community-based testing centres, hospitals, aged care, home care and Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

KEVIN STENT The three DHBs are looking for interest across a number of hospital departments, including midwives, orderlies, radiology, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to 'help [them] fight Covid-19'.

A spokesperson for the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre told Stuff the recruitment process would ensure there were sufficient staffing levels to meet current daily demand, as well as the expected pressure over winter.

The 'expressions of interest' portal was one of its strategies to identify people who may be available to work in the Covid-19 response.

It was launched on March 22, and approximately 2300 people had registered so far, they said.

The DHBs would look to match those registered against vacancies as they arise, placing people in roles to match their skills.

Before commencing work, the coordination centre would carry out a police check, ensure staff had a current practicing certificate (APC) and were eligible to work in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Health had worked with the Nursing Council to identify nurses who have a lapsed certificate and could return to nursing for a limited time during the pandemic, the spokesperson said.

The Nursing Council was able to reissue an interim practicing certificate (IPC) until December 31, with the condition of restricted practice for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.

To qualify, a nurse needs to be aged under 65, have a practicing certificate that lapsed within the past five years and no professional issues.

These nurses would also be registered on a regional database.

On Wednesday, Waitematā DHB put a call out on social media for security staff to aid in the Covid-19 response.

It was looking for people to start immediately on three-month fixed term contracts, working 12-hour days.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health suggested retired GPs and nurses could be called back to work to raise staffing numbers.

Figures from Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in March showed 200 former GPs could return, while ministry figures show 136 GPs stopped practising in the past year.

There have been 868 confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand as of Friday.