18 Nov 2022

Short-staffing likely to lead to long waits at Christchurch emergency department

7:54 pm on 18 November 2022
Christchurch Hospital Emergency entrance.

Christchurch Hospital's emergency department is without 30 percent of its junior doctors due to sick leave, annual leave and job vacancies. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Christchurch Hospital is warning there will be long wait times at its emergency department this weekend because it does not have enough staff.

The ED will be without 30 percent of its junior doctors due to sick leave, annual leave and job vacancies.

Te Whatu Ora said people should still go to the ED if it was an emergency, but those who needed less urgent care would have to wait.

People could visit one of the city's three urgent care clinics for non-emergencies, it said.

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