Contingency arrangements have been put in place as Middlemore Hospital is hit with a record demand for care across the hospital's services. AdvertisementThe department cared for over 350 patients on most days last week, with a record 393 seen on Monday, June 26. "We are asking everyone to help keep our emergency department free for people with life threatening illnesses and injuries," said Thornton. Middlemore Hospital is the busiest of all hospital emergency departments in New Zealand, but Thornton said she was aware that other hospitals were also facing similar pressure with the onset of winter. In the past four weeks, the hospital had seen 802 more patients compared to the same time last year.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 05, 2017 21:56 UTC