Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department

7 hour wait to receive stitches
Apr 1st, 2023

Considering its an emergency department they seem to be in no hurry.
Mar 29th, 2023

My little one had a fall and we ended up in the ED. Im truly thankful for the kindness and care the nurses and doctors showed. She was treated with respect and kindness throughout. From triage through to the nurses and doctors, they were all calm and patient, even though she struggled to communicate through feeling both nervous and sore. They went the extra mile during treatment playing YouTube videos, blowing bubbles and talking to her to help keep her calm and distracted while disinfecting, gluing and dressing her wound. Ive been to this same hospital before and experienced a much longer wait, as that particular time wasnt as much of an emergency (I had pain, but there was no bleeding or imminent risk). I was seen to 6hrs later, so the wait was a long one, but the staff were wonderful. Its probably worth noting that this is an ED, and therefore emergencies or cases more urgent will take priority. In terms of a young child that was clearly upset and sore, she was seen to swiftly so honestly no complaints with either of my visits so far.
Mar 22nd, 2023

Medical things can be soo unpredictable. Waiting room time wasnt ideal but necessary to make sure the right cases are seen first. Once my condition really quickly worsened, I was taken down the hall straight away, which made me feel listened to and I was very grateful for that. My nurses and team the entire night of Monday 27th March were all absolute empathetic, kind, nurturing, smart and educated and loving women. I was having a really insanely scary experience, but I feel like I only made it through as much as I did because of all of them. They worked extremely fast when something went wrong. My medical anxiety was picked up on fast and they made sure to help me through every moment. My hand was held through parts that were extra really difficult for me, I felt so LISTENED TO, cared for and reassured and attended to every second after the waiting room. Thank-you for everything.
Mar 5th, 2023

I have been experiencing pain in my ear, which has resulted in a headache since yesterday. Despite taking ibuprofen, the pain has worsened, and I have not been able to sleep. I tried booking an appointment with an after-hours service, but they are fully booked, and I do not want to wait in the emergency department for hours. When I arrived, I was in so much pain that I could not even speak properly, and I felt exhausted. My husband had to answer questions from a nurse, who was rude and unkind to us. She even talked loudly in the lobby, insinuating that I was pretending to be sick. I can walk, but that does not mean I am not in severe pain and unable to speak. The nurse demanded to see me and refused to talk to my husband. I feel miserable, sad, and angry because of the pain and the nurse's behavior. It is unacceptable for a healthcare professional to be unkind to a patient, especially when they are in distress. I hope that one day she experiences the pain I am feeling and is treated with the same rudeness she showed me. Some people like her should not be nurses.
Feb 27th, 2023