Auckland, New Zealand – Emergency Department (ED) nurses across Auckland say this winter has been the busiest they have ever experienced, as hospitals struggle to keep up with a surge in patients, RNZ has reported.
Nurses report that waiting rooms are packed around the clock, with some patients facing hours-long delays before being seen. A combination of flu cases, COVID-19 infections, and winter-related illnesses such as respiratory conditions has put enormous pressure on already stretched services. Staff shortages have further compounded the situation, leaving frontline workers exhausted.
One senior nurse described the conditions as “relentless,” noting that the patient flow has shown no sign of slowing down since the start of winter. Many patients arriving at EDs are elderly or have underlying health issues, requiring longer and more complex care. This has created a bottleneck, with patients often waiting for ward beds to become available.
Health experts say the demand highlights the need for more investment in both emergency and primary care. They stress that many people end up in emergency departments because they cannot access timely GP appointments, further increasing ED workloads.
Despite the pressure, nurses continue to provide critical care, but they warn the system is close to breaking point. Calls have been made for urgent action to support frontline staff, including additional resources, recruitment drives, and stronger community care initiatives to ease hospital demand.
As winter continues, Auckland’s ED nurses say they are bracing for even tougher weeks ahead.