1 Jan 2012

Hospital emergency dept overloaded

12:34 pm on 1 January 2012

Hawkes Bay hospital says too many people are overloading its accident and emergency department with minor illnesses and injuries.

Chief operating officer Warrick Frater says more than 60 people turned up at A & E before 11am on Sunday.

He says staff are frustrated with people turning up to have minor medical conditions checked before they go on holiday or have other minor ailments dealt with.

Mr Frater says people using the department for minor ailments will hill wait a long time while patients with life-threatening injuries and illnesses are treated.