Hospitals are leaving patients in ambulances to cope with an overcrowded emergency department, according to a new report which recommends banning the practice.
"[The practice] is not endorsed by any group in the health sector," says the report, written by health officials and doctors for Health Minister Tony Ryall.
"... it slows time to treatment for the patient, leaves the patient in the care of unregistered practitioners - paramedics - for longer than appropriate, and has been shown to have negative health outcomes."
Mr Ryall yesterday released the report, which states New Zealand's EDs face problems of overcrowding, long patient stays, treatment of patients in corridors, and long waits for assessment and treatment.
The minister has previously stated support for firm waiting time targets but without stating how many hours. He is now calling for public and health-sector submissions on the report over the next fortnight and expects the Cabinet will make decisions within weeks.
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