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RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Fifth case of measles confirmed in Wairarapa
Health NZ says there is no increased measles risk to the public. Photo: AFP / nobeastsofierce / Science Photo Library A fifth case of measles has been confirmed in Wairarapa. The case [ was linked to others associated with a family that recently returned from overseas, Health NZ confirmed. It was possible there could be further linked cases to still be confirmed. Dr Craig Thornley, medical officer of health, said the latest case had been isolating to prevent the spread of the disease. He said there was no increased risk to the public or new locations of interest identified from the outbreak. People who visited Masterton Pak n Save on the mornings of 1 and 3 July and Carterton Library on 3 July should still monitor for measles symptoms. Health NZ asked locals to get themselves and their children immunised. As of 14 July, 81.5 percent of children aged 1 to 5 years old in the Wairarapa were fully immunised against measles, while about 89 percent of those aged 6-18 were. Health NZ this was still well short of the 95 percent needed for herd immunity to ensure protection for everyone against future outbreaks. "With outbreaks happening in many popular travel destinations such as the US, Canada, the UK, Vietnam, Thailand and India, people who have travelled for the school holidays and aren't fully immunised with the MMR vaccine, risk bringing it back into the country," Thornley said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Auckland GP sees increase in patients coming to acute clinics after being referred away from hospitals
A doctor at a private urgent care clinic, said they've been overwhelmed by patients coming with colds and flu-like illnesses over the past week. Photo: Supplied/ Unsplash - Nap studio An Auckland GP said he's seeing an increasing number of patients coming to their acute clinics after being referred away from hospitals that have been hit by winter illnesses. On Tuesday, Health NZ said the city's public hospitals were at their "upper limit", with many turning up at emergency departments with respiratory illnesses - but said it is not turning patients away in Auckland and Northland. Earlier, St John said there had been delays handing patients over to Auckland City and Middlemore Hospitals on Monday afternoon and that it was working with hospitals to manage the situation, including using telehealth and taking patients to non-hospital clinics. Carlos Lam, who works at a practice in East Tāmaki, said the acute clinic run by the practice had been filled by patients who were unable to be seen in a timely manner at hospital. "They've been a bit frustrated waiting in the hospital, or they've called Healthline, and Healthline has advised they see a doctor straight away," he said. He said there's pressure on their clinics as some staff are getting sick themselves and having to take leave. Dr Lam said they've been overwhelmed by patients coming in with colds and flu-like illnesses over the past week - with patients having to wait about three to four hours. He said many have been to Middlemore Hospital, only to be given vouchers and referred to their clinic - he noted that there were babies and older patients among them. Meanwhile, North Shore district nurse Lesley Pook said she's seeing the impact of the full hospitals through patients she's seeing in the community. Pook, speaking as a New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate, said patients - some with respiratory infections - who otherwise would've stayed in hospital are being discharged earlier. "That puts a lot of pressure on our service to be able to deliver care for these people , we don't have the staffing to be able to do that adequately, a lot of times like last week, we were down 23 hours last Thursday, so that was 23 hours of care we couldn't deliver that day," she said. Northland emergency doctor Gary Payinda, speaking in a personal capacity, said he's noticed increasingly that patients were being referred to private urgent care in recent months. "As a result of our ED being full, we certainly have seen an increase in the number of patients we attempt to refer away, and to give patients telehealth appointments, to give them vouchers to be seen in the private sector, at for profit urgent care locally, so we have been struggling with that during times where we have increased numbers of influenza A." Dr Payinda said even during a normal season, they're struggling to give patients timely care due to overwhelmed hospitals and severe nursing shortages. "This is not just a seasonable flu thing, that might be the straw that broke the camel's back, but the camel was already sick and starved and emaciated to begin with," he said. Dr Payinda said it used to be unacceptable to be treating patients in the hospital corridors, but that was becoming more frequent. He said EDs could do a much better job if there were safe staffing levels for every shift. HNZ's northern acting deputy chief executive, Vanessa Thornton, said in a statement that no patients were being turned away in Auckland or Northland. "In Auckland and Whangārei, people may be offered other options to expedite their review if they are presenting with non-urgent illnesses," she said. She said hospitals' EDs have been very busy as expected during winter. "We also work closely with key partners such as Hato Hone St John, urgent care providers, and telehealth to manage high demand and provide points of escalation. "We work closely to ensure primary care, urgent care providers and our hospitals are able to work together and share workload to deliver the best care for our community." She said anyone who needed urgent or emergency care should go to ED without delay or call 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
Auckland hospitals at their upper limit
health Auckland Region 21 minutes ago Significant pressure at Auckland's major hospitals this winter is being felt across almost all the different parts of the health system, including at general practice, private urgent care and in the community. The pressure is becoming so great GPs have said they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people with winter sicknesses. One nurse said the system is so stretched she is seeing sick patients discharged into the community before they're ready. Today Health NZ said the city's public hospitals are at their "upper limit", with many turning up at emergency departments with repiratory illnesses, but said it is not turning patients away in Auckland and Northland. Lucy Xia reports.
