New Zealand Invests $25M to Boost Hospital Capacity and Care This Winter

Health New Zealand will invest an additional $25 million to boost hospital capacity, increase staffing, and prepare the health system for higher demand over the busy winter months, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

The investment will deliver: Up to an additional 378 full-time equivalent staff across the country to support meeting winter demands in our hospitals.

71 extra winter hospital beds across key hospitals.

Up to 567 short stay beds through aged residential care facilities to help free up hospital capacity and reduce bed block.

Expansion of Hospital in the Home services to support earlier discharge from hospital.

Emergency department presentations continue to rise alongside population growth and an ageing population, placing hospitals under increasing pressure during the winter months, and creating sustained demand across emergency departments and other health services nationwide, Mr Brown says.

Despite these challenges, Health New Zealand has seen emergency department performance improve since the reintroduction of the Government’s health targets, with more patients now being seen sooner, reversing several years of declining performance.

While hospitals undertake seasonal planning each year as part of normal operations, winter demand still places significant pressure on services and frontline staff. That’s why strengthening capacity early, ahead of the winter months, is critical to ensuring patients receive timely care.

In my Letter of Expectation to the Health New Zealand Board last November, I made it clear that I expected a plan to prepare our hospitals for winter to be in place early. This gives New Zealanders confidence that the system is getting ready to support them heading into winter.

The Board endorsed the plan on 3 March, with implementation now underway nationwide. It provides a coordinated national approach to manage increased winter demand and support frontline teams.

The plan focuses on four key priorities: Prevention:  More vaccination opportunities, clearer winter wellness information, targeted support for older people and those at higher risk, earlier access to antivirals, stronger vaccination support in aged care, and easier access to multiple vaccinations in a single visit.

Strengthening primary care: Expanded telehealth services, expansion of urgent and after hours care clinic hours, and working with pharmacies to treat more minor conditions.

Improving flow through emergency departments and hospitals: Additional staff and beds to manage higher demand, seasonal winter wards at Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch hospitals, faster diagnostic testing and imaging, and systems to help clinicians respond more quickly to critical results.

Supporting timely discharge from hospital: Expanded hospital‑in‑the‑home services, additional transitional and aged residential care beds, increased allied health support for patients returning home, and improved weekend discharge processes.

Mr Brown says every winter brings added pressure on hospitals, with performance against the shorter stays in ED health target historically lower during the winter months.

Hospitals will still face high levels of demand this winter. But by planning early, expanding capacity, and supporting our frontline teams, we are giving them the tools, resources, and flexibility they need to better manage pressure, reduce delays, and deliver care for New Zealanders.

I want to thank everyone working across the health system in advance. We know winter will be busy, and this investment is about supporting you to keep patients at the centre of our health system.