Waikato Hospital Emergency Department
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
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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85.2% Yes
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13.5% No
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
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Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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