Hospitals' codes change

Two Wellington hospitals have now been stood down from a "code red" status after receiving fewer patients than expected over the weekend.

Capital and Coast District Health Board spokeswoman Raelene Bateman said Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals dealt with 15 per cent fewer patients than expected.

That created extra bed space, allowing the hospitals to assume a status of "code orange".

The two hospitals could not meet demand last week as a spike in patient numbers coincided with a number of medical staff being off work ill.