Middlemore Hospital ED ‘under pressure’ with staff stood down due to Covid-19

At least 24 staff at Middlemore Hospital’s emergency department have been stood down from duties because of potential exposure to Covid-19, Stuff reveals. The Northern Region Health Co-ordination Centre (NRHCC) would not confirm that number, but a healthcare worker said the hospital’s ED was already under pressure because of staffing shortages. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) executive director Sarah Dalton said it will only add to the pressure on other healthcare workers to pick up the slack.