1 in 3 ED patients in corridors

Stuff reports:

A third of patients who visited Wellington Hospital’s emergency department this year spent at least some time waiting in a bed in the corridors, new data shows.

At some stage during virtually every single day since the start of the year, the ED has reached or surpassed 90% capacity, Te Whatu Ora Wellington’s interim lead on hospital and specialist services Jamie Duncan said.

One in three ED patients in corridors. That’s horrific

In addition, just 44 to 51% of ED patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within six hours – falling well short of the 95% target.

It was only six years ago that almost 95% of ED patients were being seen within six hours. Now it is below between 44% and 51% in Wellington. Many more people will be dying because of this.