Saturday 24 October 2026Sat 24 Oct
headline.nz

Waikato mental health patients sleeping on floor mattresses due to bed shortage

Waikato TimesStuffRNZNZ HeraldThursday 14 August 2025 · 4 outlets · 2 reports · updated

In this story Health New Zealand, RNZ

Photo: NZ Herald (opens in new tab)

Patients at Waikato Hospital's Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre are sleeping on floor mattresses because acute mental health wards are operating at 140% capacity. A nurse reports that a shortage of community beds is preventing patient discharges, leading to overcrowding in wards and interview rooms.

How they headlined it

First reported by Waikato Times, Thu 14 Aug 2025, 9:46am · 2 reports from 2 outlets over 8 hours
  1. Waikato TimesWaikato Times via RNZ

    Waikato mental health patients sleeping on floor mattresses because of bed shortage - nurse (opens in new tab)

    Also on Stuff (opens in new tab), RNZ (opens in new tab)

  2. NZ HeraldNZ Herald

    Waikato mental health patients sleeping on floor mattresses because of bed shortage (opens in new tab)