Christchurch Hospital has warned kidney patients that dialysis treatment may be rationed due to a severe lack of staff and physical space.
In a letter sent to patients, seen by 1News, the hospital's kidney department said there was no longer adequate space or staff to provide haemodialysis for everyone who required it.
To manage pressure, patients may be asked to change dialysis days, shifts or locations, including between the Acute Dialysis Unit, Ward 14's "pop up" unit, and the Home Training Centre.
"It may even mean you are asked to change location," department head Dr Penny Hill wrote.
If those measures were not enough, treatment frequency could be reduced from three sessions a week to two.
"The only alternative is to ration the amount of dialysis each person receives," the letter said. Health New Zealand acknowledged the move would be "suboptimal care" and a "last resort".
"I apologise that we may need to ask you to do this," it added.
Patient Diana Garlick, who relied on dialysis to prevent kidney failure, said the message left her feeling anxious.
"It does freak me out because it does compromise my health," she said.
Speaking to 1News, Dr Penny Hill, who wrote the letter, said the news was "heartbreaking".
"It's not what you train for years to do to be able to deliver sub-optimal care."
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says Christchurch is not alone.
“This is a national problem,” executive director Sarah Dalton said.
"There are a range of communities who aren’t being properly provided with dialysis care and other kidney care. Christchurch is at the sharp end at the moment, but this is something you’ll see happening around the country."
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the Government was paying close attention.
"This is clearly a need in this community. I’ve made my expectations clear, and I expect Health New Zealand to deliver on that," he said.
Health NZ Canterbury group director of operations Hamish Brown said one senior medical officer and six FTE nurses would be recruited to meet immediate demand.
"We will also be giving careful consideration to the model of care to accommodate increasing demand, which may lead to further recruitment," he said.
"We will work with our staff to make sure we can continue to provide patients with access to the treatment they need."
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