Dannevirke Community Hospital pauses new patient admissions as Health NZ seeks staff

Dannevirke Community Hospital has paused new admissions for 30 days.

Health New Zealand has temporarily halted Dannevirke Community Hospital taking new patients while it finds more clinical staff after a number of resignations.

Local doctors in the Tararua District have raised concerns about referring patients there because of safety risks, and the health agency audited the hospital this week.

Geoff Gwyn, the regional director planning, funding and outcomes for the central region, said new admissions would be paused for the next 30 days while Health NZ provided “additional clinical workforce support”.

The hospital is run by Tararua Health Group (THG), which also operates the Pahiatua Medical Centre, where staff have raised concerns over unsafe workloads and delays.