2 Sep 2008

More patients than beds at Waikato Hospital

12:02 pm on 2 September 2008

Waikato Hospital remains in a critical situation with overcrowding.

It is trying to discharge some patients to other hospitals on Tuesday, and stepping up screening of incoming cases.

At present, 25 patients in the emergency department are waiting for inpatient beds, down from 36 earlier in the day. Ten patients were without beds on Monday night.

The hospital says a seasonal peak is likely to tail off in a few weeks.