Sarah* told 1News her father was admitted to the hospital last week and was placed in a family room intended for visitors in Ward 10. <\/p>\n
She said the room, which contained a table, sofa and a TV, had no oxygen or suction equipment, and not enough electrical outlets to power his hospital bed and IV pumps simultaneously. <\/p>\n
The room also did not contain a working call bell. Instead, Sarah said her father was given a small silver bell \u2014 similar to one found at a hotel reception desk \u2014 which could not be heard outside the room.<\/p>\n
“I thought the room was just a short term thing,” Sarah told 1News. “Then I realised ‘No, this is his room. This is where he’s going to be left at night.'” <\/p>\n
Sarah said her father was confused and unsteady due to his illness, and was struggling to reach the toilet without assistance. On one occasion, he was unable to get help from staff in time and was left needing to change himself.<\/p>\n
His condition later deteriorated with vomiting, shaking and a rising temperature, prompting Sarah to raise concerns with nursing staff. <\/p>\n
Her father was then moved into a standard hospital room.<\/p>\n
![\"File](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/file-image-of-north-shore-hospital-4KJX4AJ24ZGJZBKLZT5J7O3KJY.jpg\")
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File image of North Shore Hospital <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel really strongly that in hospital at the moment you need to have someone to advocate for you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Sarah, who has a nursing background, said she understood the ongoing pressures facing hospital staff but believed the room was unsuitable for patients requiring high levels of care. <\/p>\n
She said staff at North Shore Hospital appeared to share her concerns, but had limited solutions due to a high volume of patients. <\/p>\n
“I don’t think they’re getting much of a choice either.”<\/p>\n
Sarah said she had continued to see other patients occupying the room during visits to her father \u2014 often up to three at a time. <\/p>\n
“If they’re going to use that room, I’d like to see equipment in there and ways that the person can raise a concern,” she said. “I really worry that someone could fall over.”<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/generic-hospital-ward-stock-image-JXTGYNLIBFEKBNXAGQUYETDANU.jpg\")
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A hospital ward (file image). (Source: istock.com)<\/p>\n
‘Alternative spaces’ used during high demand<\/p>\n
Health New Zealand confirmed to 1News it received a complaint relating to Sarah\u2019s father\u2019s care on October 2 and had since been in contact with the family.<\/p>\n
It declined to comment on the details while the complaint process was ongoing. <\/p>\n
Health New Zealand Waitemat\u0101 group director of operations Brad Healey said North Shore Hospital was among many hospitals nationwide experiencing periods of high demand.<\/a><\/p>\n “In these situations, a range of measures may be used to ensure patients continue to receive timely care, including the temporary use of alternative spaces,” Healey said. <\/p>\n “Patient safety remains our top priority, and any area used for patient care must be suitable for that purpose and supported by the appropriate clinical oversight.”<\/p>\n Healey said work was continuing to improve patient flow, increase capacity and support staff.<\/p>\n ‘Patients are right to expect better’<\/p>\n Concerns about patients being treated in spaces not intended for hospital care at North Shore Hospital have been raised previously.<\/p>\n
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