Record emergency department presentations causing crisis for New Zealand doctors
Wednesday 30 September 2026 · 3 outlets · 2 reports · updated 
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine reports that annual emergency department presentations have reached a record 1.4 million. Doctors warn that rising patient complexity, bed shortages, and workforce pressures are leaving departments operating at or above capacity. This represents a 21 per cent increase in presentations since 2015-16.
Key facts
5 facts
- Annual emergency department presentations reached 1.4 million in 2024/25.
- ED presentations increased by 21 per cent since 2015-16.
- Māori ED presentations increased by 39 per cent over the last decade.
- Inpatient bed supply fell from 2.7 to 2.5 beds per 1000 population between 2015 and 2024.
- 66 per cent of 2024-25 ED presentations were triaged as high urgency.
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
New Zealand's emergency departments are facing a crisis due to record-high patient numbers and increasing case complexity. The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) reported that more than 1.4 million patients attended emergency departments annually in 2024/25. This represents a 21 per cent increase since 2015-16, which outpaces the 13 per cent population growth during the same period.
ACEM Aotearoa New Zealand council chair Dr Michael Connelly described the situation as a reality check and a call to action. He stated that "Our health system is in crisis. Our EDs are operating at or above capacity every day". Dr Connelly noted that patients are frequently treated in corridors and ambulance bays due to a lack of hospital beds.
The report highlights that 66 per cent of presentations in 2024-25 were triaged as high urgency, up from 55 per cent in 2015-16. Māori emergency department presentations rose by 39 per cent over the decade, nearly double the overall growth rate. ACEM has identified the need for improved Māori health equity and better access to primary care.
To address these issues, ACEM is calling for increased investment in hospital and aged-care capacity, as well as better training and retention for the emergency medicine workforce. The college specifically highlighted the need for more support for doctors in rural and regional communities. Recent government data shows mixed results in wait times, with half of the country's emergency departments improving and half declining.
Where reports differ
- One report notes that half of the country's EDs showed improved wait times in the March to June 2026 quarter, while the other focuses on the overall crisis and capacity issues.
Compiled from reports by The Press and Stuff.