The hospital used “surge capacity” when the ED and wards were full, opening extra space for patients waiting to be admitted as part of this year’s winter plan.
Tito said the extra spaces were a corridor and the winter plan was still not properly resourced with the clinicians needed.
“They’ve got the ability to open these extra beds, and that helps a little, but they don’t have the staff to make it safe and allow that quality care to happen so people aren’t sitting in corridors.”
In July, nurses warned they were worried someone could die awaiting care in Whangārei Hospital ED.
Since then, more nurses were burning out and getting sick, but little cover was available for sick leave, Tito said.
Whangārei Hospital nurses say patients are being treated in corridors and staff are at breaking point. Photo / 123RF
Nationwide tracking by PHF Science showed a large spike in hospitalisations for flu-like illness in August – the highest since records began in 2015 – driven by patients testing positive for influenza.
Flu cases were impacting schools and being felt in EDs across the country.
Tito said understaffing and vacancies not being filled meant Whangārei Hospital ED was unable to cope.
“Staff are in the office crying and needing counselling: they’re stressed and it feels like we’re back in a crisis state.”
Nurses have been warned about chronic staff shortages across the hospital, with documents this month revealing tight controls on staff hiring nationwide to save money in 2024-2025.
The PHF Science dashboard shows nationwide hospitalisations with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) has reached very high activity and is double the 2015-19 average.
Tito said vacancy upon vacancy was mounting up, and they were not easy to fill in Northland.
Another Northland problem was the high number of acutely unwell patients not registered with a GP or who had not been managed well in primary care, she said.
A decision to send some north Auckland patients to Whangārei due to crowding at North Shore Hospital had not made a noticeable difference to patient numbers, Tito said.
Health NZ says everyone who needs emergency care will be seen
Alex Pimm, Health NZ’s group director of operations Northern, said the health system was managing exceptional demand with New Zealand’s worst flu season in a decade.
“Whangārei Hospital emergency department is no exception and remains very busy and continues to experience high demand, particularly from seasonal illness.
Alex Pimm, Health NZ’s group director of operations for Te Tai Tokerau, says Whangārei Hospital staff are working hard to ensure timely care. Photo / Denise Piper
“Our teams are working incredibly hard … The public can be reassured that patients are receiving adequate care in our emergency departments to maintain their safety and dignity.”
Pimm said during busy periods, patients with less urgent conditions may experience longer waits but everyone who needed emergency care would be seen and treated.
He agreed “surge capacity” was used at the hospital when demand was particularly high, as part of winter planning.
Pimm did not address the claim the areas were in a corridor and understaffed, saying they were “supported by clinical oversight” and help ensure patients continued to receive safe care.
Health NZ was recruiting nurses, allied health professionals and doctors for the emergency department, he said.
“We acknowledge the pressure all of our staff have been working under during a demanding winter season, and I am grateful for their professionalism and commitment to patient care.”
Whangārei Hospital is busy – not just in the Emergency Department (ED) but also in the wards. Photo / NZME
Another part of the winter plan was to expand Whangārei’s private urgent care service but the Northern Advocate revealed in July the expansion would not take place this winter, despite queues out the door.
Pimm said the service’s hours would extend incrementally over the coming year.
Health NZ was also working with primary and community healthcare providers across Te Tai Tokerau to help people access the right care in the right place, he said.
Occupancy and capacity information not available
Health NZ said questions about ED occupancy and the number of times the ED went into Code Red had to be addressed through an Official Information Act request.
However, the organisation was unable to answer the Northern Advocate’s questions on this topic sent in July, despite a statutory requirement to do so within 20 working days, saying it needed more time.
Pimm did not provide a direct response when asked why Health NZ was unable to provide this information.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.