Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Wellington Hospital has been forced to close off part of a corridor this week to make room for extra emergency department beds, as patient numbers continue to climb during one of the busiest winters in recent years.
Health NZ’s acting interim group director of operations for Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, Robert Blaikie, says the move is part of a temporary strategy used when the emergency department reaches high occupancy. Up to four beds can be placed in the corridor outside the ED observation unit for stable patients awaiting admission or discharge, with a dedicated nurse assigned to monitor the area.
To protect privacy and reduce disruption, access to the corridor is restricted while the overflow beds are in use.
Blaikie says Wellington is not alone. Hospitals across the country have been dealing with similar pressures, with emergency departments reporting surges in presentations linked to a highly contagious flu strain, high baseline occupancy, and ongoing staffing challenges. Several major centres — including Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin — have publicly acknowledged using temporary overflow spaces or short‑stay areas to manage peak demand this winter.
“This flu season has been particularly tough,” Blaikie says. “We’re seeing significant increases in ED presentations nationwide, and that puts stress on every part of the health system.”
Health NZ is responding by prioritising acute care, expanding temporary ward capacity, and freeing up inpatient beds through frequent discharge reviews. Additional community support services, such as early supported discharge, are also being used to keep hospital flow moving.
Suitable ED patients are being redirected to primary care providers where appropriate, in an effort to ease pressure on emergency departments.
Blaikie says the situation underscores the importance of long‑term work already underway to relocate and expand Wellington’s ED and increase acute service capacity.
For now, hospitals across the country are bracing for the final stretch of winter — and hoping the worst of the flu season has passed.
