Covid-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses are on the rise as we inch towards winter, so Te Whatu Ora launched its winter preparedness plan this week with the aim of easing the pain for already overstretched hospitals.

"I'm determined we'll have the best plan New Zealand's ever had" - Ayesha Verrall

Covid-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses are on the rise as we inch towards winter, so Te Whatu Ora launched its winter preparedness plan this week with the aim of easing the pain for already overstretched hospitals.

The government argues its reforms unifying the 20 DHBs have allowed it to better prepare. The plan promises to bring the health system closer to people - into the home, pharmacies and rest homes - but the opposition and health workers alike worry there's too few frontline workers to staff it.

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A woman died of a brain bleed in Middlemore Hospital's ICU last year, after leaving the emergency department the previous day due to long wait times.

Doctors at the time told RNZ was it symptomatic of the entire health system; last winter was the worst on record for wait times in accident and emergency. That continued, with no city ED meeting treatment targets.

That is the bleak backdrop to the coming winter season and there are early indications the conditions this winter will be tougher. This year's flu season arrived early, and Northland and north Auckland GP Tim Malloy says it will be worse than Covid-19 because less exposure in recent years means lower immunity.

"We are expecting it to be significant, severe, and cause people probably greater harm than the current serotypes of Covid," he says.

Read more:

Doctors, nurses still expect 'slog' for winter despite government plan

Health NZ Te Whatu Ora unveils winter preparedness plan

Flu vaccination: Nearly 600,000 had jab in first four weeks

Nurses sceptical National's bonding scheme will fix shortage

Rest home bed shortage puts pressure on health system, providers say

Staff shortages hit Auckland urgent care: 'Cavalry has not yet arrived'

Taskforce to address health staff gaps failing to deliver, doctors say…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details