Waikato Hospital Emergency Department

Andre Chivell from Waikato District Health Board

Kia ora, last week we put out a message on our Facebook page because our Emergency Department at Waikato was in overload and Waikato Hospital was full. You may have come across this media with the following headlines: Don’t come unless it’s an emergency, Waikato Hospital ED staff stay.

We would like to thank those that shared our important message via social media with friends and whānau because with your support, we reached over 100,000 people. We’ve been so busy we did forget to use Neighbourly as a media channel, but will do so in the future.

The situation is more manageable now thanks to your support and the relentless work by our staff, but we are still extremely busy.

It is even more important we keep spreading this message because no matter what our hospital capacity is, the same message stands at all times: Unless you have a real emergency, please check first with your GP or phone Healthline 0800 611 116 before coming to Waikato Hospital’s Emergency Department.

And it's really important that you continue to take good care of yourselves from nutrition to things like washing your hands often, keeping up your fluids and keeping active. There are lots of programmes available in the Waikato to support all ages including the Green Prescription by Sport Waikato that helps educate women around food and exercise, and if you're looking to quit smoking try ONCE AND FOR ALL (www.onceandforall.co.nz).

And please make sure you see your GP regularly to avoid becoming too unwell.  

Now is also a good time to sign up to SmartHealth, a free online healthcare service using your smart phone, tablet device or computer. You can use SmartHealth to talk to a free out of hour’s doctor by video, voice or text chat. Visit www.smarthealth.org.nz... for more information and to sign up.

Also read some of the positive patient experience stories from people around the Waikato.

Take care of yourselves Waikato.

Ngā mihi from Waikato DHB