Middlemore Hospital over maximum capacity

Middlemore has had to open up an extra ward to cope with the increased number of patients. Photo / Getty

Middlemore Hospital has been swamped with a surge of patients that has pushed it 7 per cent over its normal maximum capacity.

Occupancy of the South Auckland hospital stood at 107 per cent today and it had to open up an extra ward to cope with the increased number of patients, who have a wide range of medical conditions. Hospitals are usually said to run most efficiently and safely when occupancy is below 90 per cent.

Middlemore spokeswoman Lauren Young says the overloading results from admitting more patients than were discharged over the weekend and may reflect lingering cold weather and winter-type respiratory infections.

"The Emergency Department had 321 patients yesterday. On the whole we are a good 10 per cent above presentations for this time last year. We just keep tracking upwards in terms of people turning up to our ED."

Ms Young says the overloading is not caused by large numbers of patients who could have been treated by a GP choosing instead to go to the ED. She says the consensus among specialists is that this group comprise no more than 10 to 15 per cent of ED patients.

She says people with chronic illnesses can help the hospital to avoid overcrowding by doing as much as the can to learn about their illness, to reduce the odds of their needing ED care.

The hospital appealed to GPs for their cooperation, saying in a notice sent to them: "We recognise that this is also likely to be impacting on demand for your services but would appreciate your support in helping us to manage short-term demand on our emergency department."

The notice assured GPs that patients needing immediate hospital care would receive it, but asked GPs to contact the relevant hospital specialist or registrar for advice on patients they were considering sending to Middlemore.

It also reminded them of the longstanding scheme called Primary Options for Acute Care, under which the Counties Manukau District Health Board provides funding for patients - who would otherwise be treated in hospital -
to receive some treatments such as intravenous antibiotics or fluids at GP clinics.