A woman experienced an over 11-hour wait at Wellington Hospital’s emergency department in early December without being seen by a doctor, prompting an apology from Health New Zealand.
Hospital Reached Peak Occupancy
On December 1st, the emergency department reached 256% occupancy at its busiest points, described as one of the department’s most crowded days in recent years. The patient, who has asked to remain anonymous, arrived at the hospital around 12:30 PM after experiencing severe abdominal pain and fever for approximately 24 hours. She had initially contacted Kenepuru Hospital, who advised her to seek care at Wellington Hospital.
After being triaged, the woman waited for over 11 hours, repeatedly seeking pain medication from the triage nurse as her pain spiked. Despite blood tests being taken, she was not seen by a physician. She ultimately left the hospital with her husband shortly after 2:00 AM, after being informed that admission wasn’t immediately possible due to a lack of available space.
Following her experience at Wellington Hospital, the woman experienced vomiting on a trip to Christchurch and was subsequently transferred to Christchurch Hospital via ambulance for further testing, including CT scans and additional blood work.
System Under Strain, Health NZ Acknowledges
Health New Zealand has apologized for the lengthy wait time, stating it does not reflect the standard of care they aim to provide. Julia Mitchell, the ED’s operations manager, acknowledged the distress caused by the delay. According to Health New Zealand, the hospital’s inpatient services were also at capacity, further hindering the ability to admit patients from the emergency department.
Health New Zealand aims to treat or discharge 95% of emergency department patients within six hours by 2030. However, Capital and Coast, which includes Wellington Hospital, currently achieves this target only 50% of the time, making it the second-worst performing ED in the country.
A Cabinet Paper from last year indicated that Wellington ED’s current layout contributes to the problem, with one in ten patients choosing not to wait for a clinician and one-third being treated in corridors. A major upgrade to the hospital, including a new emergency department and 126 additional beds, was announced last June.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the patient’s initial complaint?
The patient presented to Wellington Hospital with severe abdominal pain and fever that had lasted for approximately 24 hours.
How long did the patient wait before leaving the hospital?
The patient waited for approximately 11 and a half hours at Wellington Hospital before leaving without being seen by a doctor.
What is Health New Zealand’s six-hour target for ED patients?
Health New Zealand aims for 95% of patients to be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours by 2030.
As Wellington Hospital faces ongoing pressures, will improvements to the facility and staffing levels be enough to address these challenges and reduce wait times for patients?
