Tauranga Hospital emergency ward staff demand urgent staffing boost amid severe overcrowding
Emergency Department staff at Tauranga Hospital have declared a crisis, saying the unit is operating at 150-200% of capacity and lacks required nursing staff.
Staff from the Emergency Department at Tauranga Hospital announced a "state of emergency" because the unit is consistently running at 150-200% of its intended capacity without sufficient nursing personnel. Over 100 NZNO members and other ED staff addressed a letter to Health New Zealand chief executive Dale Bramley, highlighting that CCDM assessments over the past two years have flagged a shortfall in required nurses and health care assistants.
They referenced a recent incident where a patient collapsed in the ED waiting-room toilet as a stark illustration of the dangers posed by chronic overcrowding. The correspondence asked for the recruitment of approximately 13.66 additional roles for 2025/26 and 16.78 for 2026/27, as indicated by the modelling. Bramley replied, confirming his recent visit to the department and his awareness of the sustained pressures, and said he has instructed regional director Cath Cronin and interim group director Jo Gibbs to convene with staff within a fortnight to agree on a plan to increase staffing. RNZ has sought further comment from Health New Zealand on the situation.
Why it matters
Insufficient staffing in a busy emergency department threatens patient safety and staff wellbeing.
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