Cold sufferers urged to stay away from Tauranga Hospital emergency department

Tauranga Hospital. Photo/File

An appeal is being made for patients with minor coughs and colds to stay away from Tauranga Hospital's Emergency Department.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board emergency department business lead Neil McKelvie said the increase in people with winter-type illnesses had been "really noticeable" in the past couple of weeks.

"We are seeing a lot of people with the coughs and colds which are typical of this time of year, and which are more appropriately treated by a GP or pharmacist," he said.

Patient numbers at Tauranga Hospital's emergency department in the past fortnight had been around the 170 mark, with 177 seen on August 12.

McKelvie said an average day would be closer to 140-150.

"That additional 20-25 patients a day can put a real strain on the staff, and it's frustrating because it's easily avoided.

"The ED is for emergencies."

There was also risk of hospital staff becoming infected by the high numbers of people coming through the emergency department with coughs and colds, McKelvie said.

"They then have to take time off work because they do not want to risk infecting our patients.

"That then adds more workload pressure to the staff who remain."