Dunedin Hospital has come dangerously close to a "Code Black"

That's when the hospital is full and patients need to be discharged so new cases can be admitted.

It was almost called two weeks ago.

The hospital has gone into black once, in March this year.

According to the Otago Daily Times, DHB Board chairman Pete Hodgson is frustrated about the situation.

He doesn't understand how they nearly went into black again, with no Covid or no seasonal flu in town.

Hodgson says they have to get this facility through another seven winters before the new Dunedin hospital opens, so patient flow matters.