Nearly 2000 patients spent more than 12 hours in Christchurch Hospital ED as lengthy stays surge

Journalist·NZ Herald·10 Nov, 2026 06:34 PM4 mins to read‌Christchurch Hospital faced sustained high occupancy, increasingly complex patient needs and pressure on inpatient services. Photo / RNZ / Nate McKinnonNearly 2000 patients spent more than 12 hours at Christchurch Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) in the first six months of 2026, a nearly 70% increase on the same period last year. Figures released to the Herald under the Official Information Act (OIA) show 1997 patients remained in ED for more