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Story perspectives

Health NZ breached code after 4.5-hour ECG delay

8/20/2026

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Story summary
  • Health NZ breached health code after a 55-year-old waited 4.5 hours for an ECG.
  • The emergency department was at 200 % occupancy and ten nurses short when the patient arrived.
  • A triage nurse assigned a non-cardiac score requiring assessment within 30 minutes, but the ECG was delayed.
  • Health NZ’s review recommended additional triage training, escalation steps, extra staff and a waiting-room nurse.