“Where possible, we ask patients to limit this to one support person. This small step can make a significant difference by reducing crowding in our waiting areas and helping protect patients, visitors and staff from illness.”
The request follows a spike in influenza and whooping cough across Hawke’s Bay.
On one day last week, Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s emergency department recorded 225 patient presentations – well above its winter daily average of 158.
The pressure followed already elevated demand earlier in winter.
Figures obtained by Hawke’s Bay Today under the Official Information Act showed the emergency department recorded an average of 157 presentations a day during June, compared with about 150 a day over the previous 12 months.
At the time, Health New Zealand described it as a “sustained high level of utilisation” above the baseline number of patients.
The department has 23 treatment spaces.
Health New Zealand has said the emergency department does not have a fixed capacity, and people who require urgent care should still attend.
The latest winter illness wave has been felt beyond the hospital.
Schools across Hawke’s Bay have reported unusually high numbers of students and staff off sick, while some medical centres have asked people with respiratory symptoms to wear masks.
Napier’s overnight urgent health service was also forced to close overnight five times in one week because of staff illness.
Health New Zealand was encouraging people experiencing cold, flu or Covid symptoms not to visit the hospital unless they need medical care themselves.
Those with non-urgent health concerns can consider their GP, community pharmacies or the free Healthline service on 0800 611 116.
Anyone needing emergency care should attend the emergency department without delay or call 111.