Patient beds angled in ED corridors, hospital makes plans to pitch tents in winter surge, doctor says
Christchurch Hospital in New Zealand is facing severe overcrowding, with doctors reporting that emergency corridors are filled with patient beds. Medical staff are warning that the situation is becoming dangerous and are considering extreme measures like using tents to manage the winter patient surge.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing strain on public healthcare infrastructure and the potential for systemic failure during peak seasonal demand.
Christchurch Hospital's emergency room is struggling with not enough beds for patients. Photo / RNZ
Christchurch Hospital has emergency plans to pitch a tent outside as corridors fill up with patients in beds, according to one doctor.
And in some cases, beds are already being angled in corridors in order to fit more in.
Hospitals around the country are also feeling the pressure of winter sickness, and, while the Government put $25 million into extra staffing and beds to get ready, Christchurch Hospital emergency specialist Dr Dominic Fleischer says there still isn’t enough.
Speaking to Morning Report , Fleischer said it was busy – but not unexpected.
While an increase in patients is a “normal” winter occurrence, the number needing to be seen seemed to get worse each year – and this year is “certainly worse” than last.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in