All planned surgeries at Dunedin hospital were postponed today, with the hospital over capacity.
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The Southern DHB said sustained pressure on its health care system, together with high numbers of emergency department presentations, Covid-19, staff fatigue and illness had increased the challenges for the already busy hospital.
The board had not given any information on surgeries tomorrow, or for the rest of the week.
Chief operating officer Hamish Brown said staff were doing their very best to meet the demand, and understand deferring surgery was upsetting for patients.
He said the postponment was part of the hospital's escalation plan when it reached a critical level of occupancy.