'Send help': Doctor's plea to Health NZ as hospital struggles to cope with demand

A doctor at Palmerston North Hospital has called on Health New Zealand to provide additional support as the emergency department grapples with overwhelming patient volumes. Dr Dusty Bratton, who works at the facility, described a chaotic situation on Friday, noting that the waiting room was filled with nearly 20 to 30 patients. Some individuals reported waiting up to 17 hours, while one patient endured a staggering 27-hour delay before receiving care. Upon arrival at the hospital, Bratton found 20 patients unable to be examined due to lack of capacity. He said some patients left the emergency department because of the long wait times. Bratton, who relocated to the region from the United States a year ago, expressed concern over the disparity in wait times between New Zealand and the U.S., suggesting that Kiwis face longer delays and more instances of “bedblock”, a term used to describe situations where patients remain in the system beyond their allocated time slots. This, he warned, could result in adverse health outcomes. Staff members have been working extra shifts to alleviate the burden, though Bratton noted such measures are unsustainable. He himself has logged three additional shifts in two weeks. The hospital has recently expanded its facilities, adding 14 new beds and an assessment room to the emergency department. However, these additions have not resolved the issue of bedblock, according to Bratton. He questioned whether the focus on meeting discharge targets and improving statistical performance sometimes compromises clinical judgment. His plea to Health NZ was simple: “Send help, that’s all I got.” In response to the growing strain on healthcare services, Health NZ’s group director of operations, Dr Vanessa Thornton, acknowledged the challenges faced by hospitals during flu season. She stated that the organization is already planning for the upcoming year, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to address rising demand. The surge in patient numbers, she explained, is largely attributed to seasonal illnesses, including influenza A, which has led to a sharp increase in emergency department visits. In one week alone, there were 1500 more presentations to emergency departments nationwide compared to the previous week. Thornton highlighted that many hospitals, including Palmerston North Hospital and her own, Middlemore Hospital, are experiencing unprecedented levels of demand. While she praised the dedication of healthcare workers, she stressed that the current target of seeing 95% of patients within six hours remains unmet. She assured the public that no one would be sent home prematurely to artificially inflate statistics. Instead, she emphasized that urgent cases receive top priority, even if non-critical patients must wait longer. To improve long-term outcomes, Thornton urged the public to take proactive steps such as getting vaccinated and seeking early treatment for illnesses. These actions, she argued, could help reduce the overall burden on emergency services and contribute to more manageable wait times in the future. As the situation continues to evolve, both healthcare professionals and administrators are under increasing pressure to find sustainable solutions to ensure timely and effective care for all patients.