The Health Minister says the system is under pressure.

Hospitals are struggling, with Counties Manukau DHB paying local GPs to see patients to take pressure off Middlemore Hospital emergency departments over the weekend.

And a 50 year-old woman died with a brain bleed last week after allegedly being told by Middlemore staff there would be an eight hour wait before being examined.

Andrew Little told Heather du Plessis-Allan everything possible's being done to help.

“That's why the hospital management in each of hospitals is taking a range of actions to alleviate that pressure, particularly on their EDs.”

He says it was predicted to be under pressure with Covid-19 and flu strains that haven't been seen for three years.

“What we not entirely predicted was the level of staff absenteeism and all of those things are putting pressure on the system at the moment.”

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