Algunos pacientes tienen que esperar 24 horas en el departamento de emergencias del Hospital Wellington

Some patients at Wellington Hospital’s emergency department have been facing wait times exceeding 24 hours this month, according to reports from staff and officials. The situation has drawn criticism from local politicians and healthcare workers, who say the department is struggling under intense pressure during the winter season. An emergency department nurse described a recent Monday night shift where one patient fell asleep and injured himself after waiting 12 hours for treatment. The nurse, who requested anonymity due to concerns about potential repercussions, detailed how the department operated under extreme strain, including multiple instances of Code Red alerts, which indicate severe overcrowding and resource constraints. According to internal documents obtained by Radio New Zealand, Health NZ acknowledged in early August that some patients had waited longer than 24 hours in the emergency department. This came amid reports of high numbers of patients waiting more than six hours for admission, discharge, or transfer. Nationally, hospitals aim to meet a target where 95 percent of patients are dealt with within six hours of arrival. However, data from January to March 2026 showed that Capital & Coast hospitals, which include Wellington Hospital, only met this goal 57.6 percent of the time. A shift report from 17 August described the emergency department as operating under “extreme pressure” with “significant and sustained over-crowding.” The nurse recounted a particularly challenging night on 17 August, noting that a mental health patient locked themselves in a bathroom and self-harmed. Another incident saw a member of the public enter the department and threaten to harm staff, leading to an assault on a security officer. Police responded to a report of disorderly behavior at 11:30 pm, resulting in an arrest for breaching conditions, though Health NZ declined to comment further on such incidents without a privacy waiver. The nurse emphasized that while corridor overcrowding was common, the level of pressure felt by staff and patients was unprecedented. Staff at Wellington Hospital described the challenges of managing both physical and psychological emergencies with limited resources. The nurse noted that the hospital was full and bed-blocked, forcing at least 11 patients to be treated in corridors. She estimated that on other days, up to 24 patients might be in the corridors simultaneously. “It’s just a sh**show to work in at the moment,” she said. “We’re getting high presentations, but the pressure comes from where we can’t get patients off to wards to free up our ED space, so we can continue to see the new ones coming in.” The lack of privacy and the stressful environment added to the difficulties faced by both staff and patients. Health NZ acknowledged the staffing challenges at Wellington Hospital, stating there were currently 27.1 full-time nurse vacancies in the emergency department. In the coming months, 18 new nurses will join the team, reducing the vacancy rate to 8.8 full-time positions. Michelle Sutherland, interim group director of operations for the region, confirmed that the hospital had 212 emergency department patients on 17 August, following several days of high demand. Winter typically brings increased pressure on health services, and more patients are expected as the season progresses. Sutherland noted that 66 percent of patients were being managed within acceptable timeframes, though the overall performance remained below national standards. Health Minister Simeon Brown criticized the ongoing issues at Wellington Hospital, calling the situation unacceptable and highlighting its status as one of the lowest-performing emergency departments in the country. He emphasized the need for immediate action to address the systemic problems affecting patient care and staff working conditions. Meanwhile, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation expressed concern over the working environment, with a delegate warning that speaking out could lead to professional consequences. Despite these challenges, efforts are underway to improve staffing levels and manage the surge in patient numbers during the winter months.