Tauranga Hospital Emergency Department staff declare 'state of emergency'
Emergency Department staff at Tauranga Hospital have declared a 'state of emergency' due to chronic overcrowding and severe staffing shortages. Nurses report that the department frequently operates at 150-200% capacity, leading to unsafe conditions for both patients and staff.
Why it matters
This highlights the critical strain on public healthcare systems and the potential for systemic failure when staffing levels do not match patient demand.
*Correction: This story has been updated to clarify the NZNO's stance
Emergency Department staff at Tauranga Hospital have declared "a state of emergency", warning of the risks of an ED which they say is often running at 150-200 percent of its capacity, without the staffing needed.
More than 100 Nurses Organisation (NZNO) members and ED staff at the hospital have written a letter to Health New Zealand's (HNZ) CEO Dale Bramley last Tuesday about their concerns.
The letter said the ED hasn't received the extra nursing staff required, as identified in "Care Capacity Demand Management" (CCDM) assessments over the past two years.
It said a patient collapsing in the ED wait room toilet was a stark reminder of the risks when overcrowding becomes normalised, and the ED is required to operate beyond their capacity everyday.
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