Initiatives to cut hospital wait times

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 eight-patient Transit Hub at Hutt Hospital, where we can monitor patients ready to leave hospital but who are waiting for discharge papers, or for wh nau or an ambulance to pick them up.

“Each morning we discharge about 40 to 50 people from Hutt Hospital. However, they are often unable to leave until late afternoon or early evening.

“The hub enables these patients to wait in comfort while freeing up much-needed beds for new patients, particularly those waiting in ED,” Mr Cromhout says.

Second Stage Recovery Unit opened at Hutt Hospital on 9 May.

“We can monitor surgical patients who are expected to stay in hospital less than 24 hours after their operation.

“We expect this will support 2,000 patients a year and free up beds in the hospital’s medical wards,” he says.

“Work on a range of community care initiatives, which will reduce demand on hospitals, is also underway.”