“The experienced team there worked through those presentations. The Whangārei ED never closed to new patients and, as always, it remains open 24/7.”
Concerns were raised after staff told RNZ on Friday there had been more than 80 arrivals since midnight, including 21 within one hour.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora said the Emergency Department at A Glance (EDAAG) system has four escalations (green-amber-red-black), factoring in patient numbers, acuity, patient waiting time, and bed capacity.
A spokesperson said this was “one of the internal mechanisms we use within our hospitals to measure occupancy and is about ensuring we appropriately enable patient flow throughout the ED and into the hospital”.
The spokesperson said it was not uncommon for the ED to go into code black, but it would continue to take patients who needed emergency care.
Health Minister Shane Reti said he is confident in Whangārei Hospital’s emergency department.
Reti reiterated Health NZ’s statement.
“Whangārei Hospital is one of our high performing hospitals, particularly the ED,” he said.
“HNZ has told me that wait times on Thursday and Friday of last week were almost exactly the same as last year, and that reflects the well performing nature of this particular team.
“While EDs will always be busy, especially over winter, and I have confidence the trained professionals across New Zealand are delivering very good care.
“The public can share that confidence too.”
Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said the pressure on the emergency department highlighted that a new hospital was needed.
Cocurullo said Northlanders have needed a new hospital for the past 20 years, and it was now at a “critical stage”.
Jenny Ling is a news reporter and features writer for the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering roading, lifestyle, business, and animal welfare issues.
