Waikato Hospital's emergency department overloadedWAIKATO DHB Waikato Hospital is in overload and above capacity. Unless it's a real emergency, people are advised against heading to the Waikato Hospital - instead they are urged to see their GPs or ring the Healthline. The start of winter has seen the hospital overloaded and above capacity, which has lead to increased numbers of patients waiting in the Emergency Department (ED) for an inpatient bed. He said unless it is a real emergency, check first with the GP or phone the Healthline 0800 611 116 before coming to the ED at Waikato Hospital. "At the moment the hospital staff are monitoring the situation hour by hour," Stephenson said.

Source: Stuff May 23, 2017 09:22 UTC