Canterbury Mornings

A Christchurch hospital spokesperson says staff morale is high - despite a pressured winter season.Board Member Doctor Anna Crighton says high emergency department patient numbers have an effect on other services.She is encouraging people to go to their GP or after-hours clinic, first.But she told Chris Lynch staff are coping well and the new acute services building will help make patient management easier, instead of constantly moving patients in and out of wards when they're closed for repairs.Anna Crighton says every hospital ward has been moved 27-times in the past eight-years.