New Zealand is facing its biggest flu outbreak in 10 years. Emergency departments are under pressure, nurses are at the end of their tether and patients are being treated in corridors.

More than 100 nurses at North Shore Hospital have written to the chief executive of Health New Zealand, Dr Dale Bramley, declaring a state of emergency for their emergency department. But it’s not just an issue for the North Shore; understaffing is creating serious problems at hospitals across the country.

In Ōtoutahi, for example, a healthcare assistant recently told The Press that Christchurch Hospital has been “bursting at the seams” and “it’s getting to the stage we need a second hospital”.

So how exactly did this problem get so bad?

Directed, filmed and edited by Isaiah Tour.
Written and presented by Robbie Nicol.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.