Call to help ease high volumes at A&E

The high volume of patients is putting pressure on Hawke's Bay's hospital staff.

An influx of winter ailments and a variety of trauma and injury cases has prompted a call for the appropriate use of Hawke's Bay Hospital's Emergency Department.

Chief operating officer Warrick Frater said hospital occupancy was high and Emergency Department staff were kept busy at the weekend with more than 150 cases being seen by staff on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Frater said on an average day ED staff usually saw about 110 cases.

The high volume of patients presenting to ED put pressure on the whole of the hospital, Mr Frater said.

He said the hospital was at capacity yesterday with overflow beds also being used.

"While we don't like having to use overflow bed space, at times we have no alternative. These bed spaces are always used for patients who are in a stable and comfortable condition and nearly well enough for discharge home.

"Our staff are working incredibly hard coping with high volumes of patients many of whom are acutely unwell."

Mr Frater urged people to see their GP for minor medical conditions to help free up an extremely busy ED and if anyone was sick to see their GP before they became too sick and needed hospital care.

"Winter ailments and the flu season is hitting us later than normal and with the extension until the end of the month of the free flu vaccination for the elderly and others with increased risk of serious flu complications it was a good time to consider getting the vaccine," he said.

Mr Frater said no elective surgery had been cancelled as a result of the winter demand but it was being closely monitored.