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ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff
Christchurch Emergency Department is ‘exceptionally busy’, says Te Whatu Ora’s Norma Campbell.
Christchurch’s emergency department (ED) and urgent care clinics are “under significant pressure” after a surge in patient numbers.
On Tuesday, there were 368 presentations to ED, “which is exceptionally busy for midweek”, Te Whatu Ora’s Norma Campbell said.
Have you faced a long wait or had trouble accessing healthcare? Email reporters@press.co.nz
By 4pm on Wednesday, 101 people had either been treated or were waiting to be seen.
“Our emergency department is exceptionally busy and our hospital is operating over capacity,” Campbell said.
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Extra staff were being made available by postponing some surgeries and rescheduling some outpatient appointments, including gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedures and some urgent cancer surgeries.
A combination of high demand, very sick patients and a lack of staff meant Moorhouse Medical and Riccarton Clinic were unable to see walk-in patients and were taking only enroled patients by booked appointment on Wednesday, and at Moorhouse Medical on Thursday.
The 24-Hour Surgery on Bealey Ave was operating as normal, but was busier than usual with waits of six hours or more for patients with less urgent needs on Wednesday afternoon.
Campbell said all three urgent care facilities were expected to be very busy and/or operating reduced services due to staffing issues from Thursday and into the weekend.
ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF
Surgeon Frank Frizelle has criticised a “lack of adequate forward planning” by the Government for the cancellation of elective cancer surgeries at Christchurch Hospital. (First published June 4, 2021)
“I need to emphasise that people who need care more urgently will be seen sooner and will get the care they need,” she said.
“There is no single condition causing the high demand, it is a range of illnesses affecting the community.”
People who did not need emergency care could phone Healthline on 0800 611 116, call their GP, or speak to their local pharmacist, she said.
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