- Emergency department at Southland Hospital is undersized and cannot meet patient demand safely
- Over 1,000 patients have waited more than four months for surgical treatment since December
- $8 million upgrade budget for ED and theatres is considered too low without compromise
Southland Hospital’s emergency department is too small to cope with current patient demand, a situation detailed in documents prepared for former Health Minister Shane Reti and obtained under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.
The report, compiled in December 2024, stated: “Southland Hospital is experiencing significant capacity constraints in ED.” It added, “The ED is too small to allow for the efficient flow of patients, this leads to extended times for patients to be placed in a clinical space to be assessed.”
The department’s physical layout and lack of specialised treatment spaces mean it fails to meet standards for “safe, effective and dignified care.” It also noted, “The ED is not equipped to sustainably and safely treat infectious patients.”
The issue is worsened by increasing demand. In 2024, Southland’s emergency department handled 2,015 patients per bed—well above the recommended 1,000 to 1,500. Operating theatres are also under pressure, with 1,071 people waiting longer than four months for surgery at the time of the report.
Theatre shortages have led to tight eligibility criteria, with the region now having one of the highest thresholds for surgery in the country. High demand from trauma and acute care patients, particularly from Queenstown, is stretching resources further.
Despite the pressure, underused surgical teams could be performing up to 90 more procedures each month if additional theatres were available. An initial 2021 business case identified a need for two more theatres.
Funding already set aside includes $3 million for theatre upgrades and $5 million for emergency department improvements. But the report stated the combined $8 million budget is “insufficient without significant compromises.” A new concept design and business case is in progress, with any upgrades likely to take two more years once approved.
The hospital’s current facilities were built with the expectation of a declining population. However, the region has grown, putting added pressure on health services. The report also flagged issues with sleeping quarters not meeting collective agreement standards and challenges recruiting general practitioners following the closure of Invercargill’s urgent doctors in March 2024.
No minutes or notes were recorded from a February meeting between Health New Zealand and Southland District Council. However, a Health New Zealand spokesperson said the organisations “met regularly.”