The reality of hospital ED capacity

The Government’s recent assurance that district health boards will be able to cope with Covid pressures over summer must be doubted given my recent experience at Wellington Regional Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED).

Last Thursday, my 8-year-old’s arm went through a window, resulting in several deep cuts. At 4pm the emergency waiting room was full. We were shown to a bed and waited.

My son received excellent care. His wounds were X-rayed, cleaned, sutured and bandaged. All the beds in the paediatric ED were full, and at least seven children and babies were waiting.

Adult ED was also full, and included a 92-year-old who’d spent nine hours awaiting an inpatient bed. Eight other patients lay on beds in corridors, but staff said this was a good night as two corridors were empty.

We left at 11pm, grateful for the skill and expertise of the doctors, nurses, radiographers, orderlies and security staff. The system is only coping now because of the dedicated staff’s commitment.

The governing politicians need to take a reality check and sit in Wellington’s ED waiting room.

Catherine Hutton, Kelburn