Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley has opened new facilities to increase available beds and relieve pressure on busy hospital wards and emergency departments as winter approaches.

“Our Hutt Valley, Kenepuru Community, and Wellington Regional Hospitals continue to experience high occupancy, with patients often having to wait in ED for long periods of time until a bed on a ward, or another facility such as aged care, becomes free,” says Andre Cromhout, Acting Chief Medical Officer.

“Winter illnesses, such as the ‘flu and COVID-19, increase hospital pressures and we have a number of initiatives underway to ease this – including opening new facilities within our hospitals and working with partner organisations to support greater community care.

“Last week we opened a new eightpatient Transit Hub at Hutt Hospital, where we can monitor patients ready to leave hospital but who are waiting