Quiet weekend for hospital

Any potential crisis that could have befallen Wairarapa Hospital at the weekend when junior doctors were striking was averted, hospital management said.
General manager Anne McLean said the hospital has the community to thank for that, by staying away and keeping the emergency department strictly for emergencies.
"While we had a busier day on Sunday, in general emergency department attendances were about 25 per cent down on what we would normally experience, and almost everyone who presented really needed to be there," she said.
"I'd also like to thank our senior medical staff, nurses and clerical staff who have gone to great lengths to ensure we could provide a safe environment for patients, and have willingly supported other staff to keep the place running."
She said the hospital had an average occupancy of 80 per cent over the strike period, and while all elective operations were postponed, some days saw up to four acute operations required.
Masterton general practice The Doctors reported a busy Saturday morning but administrator Helen Thompso said she wasn't sure whether that was because of the strike or just "normal winter ailments".