Hospital at capacity
Northland health officials are bracing for a surge of Covid-19 patients as Omicron cases rise, with the region’s main hospital already overflowing. Whangārei Hospital reached maximum capacity this week, with the Northland District Health Board advising unwell patients to contact their GP or Healthline rather than going to the emergency department.
Seventeen per cent of patients spent more than six hours in emergency departments across Tai Tokerau hospitals, far more than the target of just 5 per cent, according the health board’s latest report from November.
It comes as case numbers of Covid-19 remain relatively low, with no cases in hospital in the region. As at Friday, there were 159 active Covid-19 cases in Northland, with Omicron being the main variant. Northland DHB modelling shows there could soon be up to 400 to 500 new cases a day, with the peak expected in late March or early April.
This would result in 350 to 720 Northlanders with Covid-19 needing hospital treatment each month, and 10 to 15 needing ICU care, health board Covid-19 incident controller Mark McGinley said.
The greatest pressure was expected to be on emergency departments and community health providers, but the whole workforce was at risk, Tracey Schiebli, general manager medical and elder services, said.
‘‘Experience overseas is that the biggest impact is on the health workforce, due to having to stand down staff if they contract or are exposed to Covid,’’ she said.
Health workers, along with other critical workers, will be able to work with a negative daily rapid antigen test if they are identified as a close contact of a Covid-19 case when New Zealand hits the next phase of the Omicron outbreak.
But Schiebli said the health board was planning to manage workforce shortages and a Covid19 surge, including reducing some planned services.
This was likely to mean cutting elective surgeries like knee and hip replacements, and colonoscopies.
The DHB was talking with Auckland hospitals to provide backup staff or services if needed, Schiebli said. That was despite the nearest hospital, North Shore Hospital, being 150km away.
‘‘Our planning has been focused on supporting the health and welfare of people with Covid19 in the community. This will reduce the risk of our hospitals being overwhelmed.’’
McGinley said vaccination was the best protection against the virus, and the health board continued to encourage primary and booster courses.
Schiebli said February was traditionally a very busy time for Whangārei Hospital’s emergency department, with many patients requiring hospital admission for medical reasons or urgent surgery.
‘‘Over the last few weeks, a major driver of bed pressure has been an extremely high acute orthopaedic load. However, this is now easing,’’ she said.
Workforce pressures in agedcare facilities and community providers meant some patients were staying in hospital longer until they could access community support, Schiebli said. ‘‘In addition, Northland’s population is growing fast and ageing, which impacts the demand for health services across the board.’’
Patients can call Healthline free on 0800 611 116 24/7, and call 111 in an emergency.