Carmen Hall: Emergency Department not the problem - blame the lack of services

The emergency entrance at Tauranga Hospital. Photo / NZME

OPINION

A week ago I ended up in the emergency department at Tauranga Hospital.

I woke up in the middle of the night with chest pains, a sore back and a racing heartbeat. I rang NZ Healthline at 1.36am for advice and to soothe my increasing anxiety.

After talking to the nurse and answering numerous questions she suggested a trip to the Emgergency Department, despite my protests that I could attend a walk-in clinic at 8am.

Long story short, I was at the hospital for about 10 hours. I was triaged on arrival and within an hour I was put on the heart monitor, blood was taken and I had an X-ray.

I am fortunate, I did not have a heart attack or any related abnormalities. But I did have something else which required antibiotics and another check-up next month.

There were about six patients when I was there in numerous states of distress and it is fair to say some tempers flared as night turned into day.

On Saturday, this newspaper reported a backlash against Tauranga Hospital as it took 11 hours for three-year-old Dwayne John (DJ) Mills to see a doctor.

He was coughing, feverish and had trouble breathing. The Katikati toddler was diagnosed with croup but his family raised concerns over wait times and staffing levels. They wondered how the hospital would cope with a Covid outbreak and were worried about the lack of other after-hour emergency services.

I agree the wait time for DJ seems extreme. One of my children was also a severe asthmatic so I am familiar with the late-night hospital dashes and the rising fear and panic.

It is every parent's worst nightmare and I can sympathise. It is not easy to see your child suffering.

But due to my own experience I think emergency departments do a good job and some of the blame lays elsewhere.

I did not expect a McDonald's drive-through service and was prepared for the wait. I watched as others with more urgent issues were prioritised ahead of me.

In my opinion, it's called an emergency department for a reason and should be used accordingly - not for twisted ankles.

The lack of after-hour medical services in our region needs to be addressed to lighten the load on hospitals that are left to pick up all the slack.

There are a handful of services in Tauranga but most are closed by 9pm. In Rotorua, Lakes Primecare shuts at the same time.

This is the problem.