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‘Absolute nightmare’ – patients left waiting in soiled beds at North Shore emergency department

Published

3 months ago

August 24, 2026

Patients are waiting in soiled beds at North Shore Hospital’s emergency department and nurses say conditions are so bad it feels feral.

One hundred and twenty nurses have written to Health NZ chief executive Dale Bramley, saying the ED is in its own state of emergency.

Health NZ had failed to plan properly for winter and had not hired the nurses it had agreed to, the letter said.

North Shore ED charge nurse Jean Classey told RNZ the ED had been so busy it felt “feral”, with people unable to even fit in the waiting rooms.

It was hard seeing people crammed into corridors, and brightly lit public spaces with no privacy.

Sometimes incontinent people were waiting in wet beds until nurses could find a space to change them, she said

“It’s an absolute nightmare. It feels like we’re at war,” she said.

Classey, like all the nurses in this story, is a NZ Nurses Organisation delegate which gives them some protection for speaking out.

The vast majority of nurses in the department signed the letter to Bramley.

Health NZ said it had a winter plan running that was helping, but the emergency departments at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals were having their busiest ever winter.

Between them, there had been nearly 14,000 patients through the doors in July, it said.

But the nurses’ letter said the crisis was “entirely predictable.”

“Health New Zealand failed to adequately plan for winter demand, placing patients and staff at unnecessary risk,” it said.

Some of the problems outlined included:

patients waiting 90 minutes to be triaged
heart scans that should be done immediately, taking hours
patients waiting more than 50 hours in the ED for a bed in the hospital
patients missing essential medications
patients left in soiled beds in overcrowded corridors
the department at 300 percent capacity at times.

Health NZ had agreed to hire 25 nurses for the department but only nine had come, the nurses said.

Line of grey heads

Nurses spoken to be RNZ said it was often impossible for people to get privacy in the ED when they were feeling at their worst.

Sharon Franklin-Smith said she sometimes looked down to see a line of grey heads – people in their 80s or 90s – being cared for in the corridor.

That meant a lack of dignity and respect.

“That’s someone’s mother, grandmother and it breaks my heart, it absolutely breaks my heart.” she said.

Jean Moor has been a nurse for 35 years and said it was the worst she had seen it.

Nurses were juggling caring for their own patients, keeping an eye on those waiting, and trying to organise assessments and treatments.

“You’re running, you’re constantly working really hard, your brain is in overdrive,” she said.

Like many of the nurses she often got home hoping no one had died because they had not got the care they needed.

Health NZ starts some hiring

The day after it received the letter, Health NZ announced Friday it had started recruitment for 50 new nurses for North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals – both are operated by Health NZ’s Waitematā district.

Nine would be for the North Shore emergency department.

Health NZ group director of operations Brad Healey said in a statement that Health NZ would also hire 10 nurses and 14 health care assistants that would be in a central team to be dispatched where needed in the hospitals.

“The additional staff in the centralised nursing team gives us greater flexibility to respond to surges in demand and also cover unplanned leave,” he said.

The organisation’s winter plan had helped care for more patients in the community and moved people quickly through the hospitals to free up space – but the demand this season had been much higher than previous years, he said.

Healey said the hospitals has “amazing staff” and he hoped the recruitment would ease the load.

Chief executive Dale Bramley said last week seriously ill people should always still go to an emergency department where they will get priority care.

But the North Shore ED nurses said nine new nurses announced Friday was not enough.

Health NZ had earlier agreed to 25 but had so far only hired nine, as part of a recruitment go-slow, they said.

The department now needed even more to cope with the numbers through the doors, the nurses said.

Health NZ did not respond to RNZ’s request about the letters detailed claims about care in the department.

RNZ

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz