High admission numbers to Christchurch Hospital have caused major surgeries to be deferred.

It comes as the Canterbury DHB has more than 170 staff off with Covid-19 - and 1200 new cases across the region.

College for Emergency Medicine immediate past president John Bonning told Mike Hosking it's a perfect combination of increased patient presentations in winter, and staff illnesses.

He says there needs to be more investment in acute patient care, and wonders why managers are surprised every time this happens.

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