"We are just so grateful that they came because they gave our teams a bit of a reprieve."
"It was unprecedented of us to go to another DHB and get some nurses down," Mrs Samuel said.
Influenza rates had been relatively low this winter but a lot of other bugs had circulated, including meningococcal disease.
"Certainly most of us have experienced two weeks of coughing and feeling pretty yuck, from a variety of viruses, but actual influenza is quite different.
"There has been a multitude of viruses, and also gastro bugs out and about."
Apart from accommodation, the Timaru nurses would not incur extra cost for the SDHB.
Southland Hospital was also at full capacity this week.