The incident follows Brent Horsburgh's death after waiting more than nine hours for care.
Home / New ZealandMichael MorrahSenior investigative reporter·NZ Herald·9 Sep, 2026 05:00 PM3 mins to readEarl Stevens says he waited 10.5 hours in the waiting room.A patient collapsed and needed CPR while at Waikato Hospital’s Emergency Department waiting room last month.The patient survived after intervention from staff, but the incident has raised questions about why the patient wasn’t put into a bed on arrival at the ED.
“The lack of beds meant it
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
National guidelines are being drawn up to escalate patients who deteriorate while waiting.
Witnesses said the man waited nine to 10 hours before he collapsed in the toilet.
Staff earlier reported 301 ED arrivals on June 8, the busiest day in a year.
Earl Stevens says staff were overwhelmed as dozens waited in Waikato Hospital’s ED.
The Herald revealed the man waited nine hours before collapsing in the ED toilet.
A mother and daughter who watched medical staff trying to resuscitate a man found unconscious in a toilet at Waikato Hospital's…
