Hospital staff saw a surge in people presenting to both Taupō and Rotorua emergency departments. Photo / File
Hospital staff saw a surge in people presenting to both Taupō and Rotorua emergency departments. Photo / File
Surges of ill and injured patients filled the Lakes hospitals over the holiday period, with some injuries put down to new Christmas presents.
However, some people were turned away once they realised they could manage their problems at home, relieving unnecessary stress, hospital staff say.
Close to 300 people visitedRotorua and Taupō hospitals' emergency departments over Christmas compared to 235 people the year before.
Of those, 26 were classified as less urgent patients, three had immediately life-threatening injuries and another 28 had imminently life-threatening or time-critical injuries.
Over New Year, four people with life-threatening injuries presented at Rotorua Hospital and two at Taupō Hospital.
There was a slight drop in the number of people who presented at the emergency department overall in the New Year period with 347 in 2020 and 329 this year but the number of those considered "less urgent" was higher than that of Christmas with 32 people across both Rotorua and Taupō.
Head of Emergency Department Dr Suzanne Moran (left). Photo / File
Rotorua Hospital's emergency department (ED) head Dr Suzanne Moran said the Christmas and New Year period proved to be a busy time as expected, with staff facing expected surges of ill and injured patients.
"The increase in population caused by holidaymakers in the area contributed to the increased number of patients who presented at ED over the festive period.
"Staff saw a considerable number of mountain bike-related injuries as well as children with injuries caused by playing with new trampolines or scooters."
Quite a few people with stomach bugs were also among the ED presentations, Moran said.
"In addition, ED staff had to deal with some seriously ill people and some very serious injuries."
Most patients attending Rotorua ED understood how much pressure staff were under, she said, and in some cases, they received advice and simple treatment at triage before deciding they could manage their problems at home.
"We understand that patients can be faced with difficult choices about where to go to for their health care needs but ask that they try to support ED staff and sick patients by keeping ED for emergencies."
Moran suggested contacting Healthline as staff answering the calls were specialists in assessing and advising over the phone.
"The service is free and can provide you with guidance if you're feeling unwell but you're not sure if you need to see a doctor."
Rotorua Hospital emergency department admission totals:
