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The ward is part of Christchurch Hospital’s $500 million Hagley Building, which opened in 2020.
Mark Gilbert, an emergency physician and clinical director of the emergency department, said the department could not open because there was not enough funding to staff it as needed.
The department opened last week and requires an extra 16 nurses, six junior doctors, three full-time senior doctors and administrative staff.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said there was an additional $4.2 million in funding for operations and staffing of the unit, “but this will be at least partly offset by a reduction in hospital admissions”.
Dr. Gilbert said that although the device was there, it had not been available for the past four years, which had been frustrating for him.
“Emergency department observation units have proven to be a very effective model of care. They are good for the emergency department, good for the hospital, good for the patients and good for the staff.
“So it’s been frustrating to have this area built and not have staff on it. We’re delighted to have received approval to open the area.”
Dr. Gilbert said the observation unit bridges the gap between patients who need urgent care and those who need to be admitted to the hospital.
He said the department allows them to observe patients in recovery longer, such as waiting to see if treatment is working, or for general observation after a head injury.
“There may be someone with kidney stones, and we’re waiting to see if pain medications and other medicines are working. There may be other medical issues, like allergic reactions, overdoses. And then there are seniors who are about to need to be admitted to the hospital, who can come here and receive specialized allied health services so they can go home.”
Dr. Gilbert said that without this emergency department, many patients would have to be hospitalized or wait in the emergency room corridor.
He said there were many benefits to not taking in unwanted people.
“If you’re admitted, you’re usually here overnight, at least 24 to 36 hours, it’s just the rhythm of hospital rounds and things like that,” Dr. Gilbert said.
“Here, we’re on the ground 16 to 18 hours a day making high-level decisions, and we’re able to make those decisions late at night or even in the early hours of the morning.”
He said the move would help reduce hospital admissions, ease hospital crowding, help ease emergency room crowding and would be good for patients.
“If you don’t need to be in hospital, then the hospital is not a good place to be. Especially for elderly patients. We know that elderly patients in hospital are more likely to be confused, to fall, and to have reduced leg strength. If we can get them home and provide them with some paramedical support and follow-up support, then it’s a better place for them to be.”
The department is currently closed at night, but Dr Gilbert said once they have tested and fine-tuned all of their processes and are fully staffed, they will be open 24/7.
He said they were fully staffed with doctors and had 90% of the nurses they needed, but were still “recruiting” new staff.
He expects the force to move to around-the-clock operations in the coming weeks.
Minister says force ‘will make a real difference’
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said the unit should have been able to open in 2020 alongside the new emergency department, but its staffing had not been a priority by successive Labour ministers, the then-DHBs or subsequent internal budgets of the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
“This is exactly what I want the New Zealand Ministry of Health to focus on in the future: delivering frontline services and improving outcomes for patients and staff.
“Its opening will make a real difference to the people of Christchurch – bridging the gap between acute care and full admission, reducing pressure on emergency departments.”
Reti said their goal is to have 95% of patients admitted, discharged or transferred from the emergency room within six hours, adding that initiatives like this will help achieve that goal.
“I agree with clinicians that observation rooms should be an ongoing part of the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s work plan to improve emergency department processing times in other locations.”
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