Health officials are reassuring New Zealanders that quality health care is still being provided, despite increasing pressures on hospitals because of swine flu.
The Health Ministry was working closely with district health boards and clinicians to manage the combined pressures brought on by the outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) and seasonal influenza, its principal medical advisor David Galler said.
"We expect our health services will remain under pressure for some time yet as the pandemic virus continues to spread in our communities," he said.
"But the system is coping well and we are working with the sector to ensure issues about capacity and capability are managed appropriately."
Some intensive care units were already working at full capacity and some people who had become seriously ill after contracting swine flu were prioritised over some non-urgent surgery, he said.
The ministry said the official death rate from swine flu was 11.
But chief coroner Neil MacLean said yesterday that 14 people had died from having swine flu.
He said he was investigating the deaths of a further three people who had the virus.
A 30-year-old woman died in hospital on July 19, and a 28-year-old man died in the community on July 13. The third death was a 39-year-old man. All were from Auckland.
All 14 people had other health problems, a spokeswoman from Mr MacLean's office said.
There were now 2585 confirmed swine flu cases in New Zealand, up from 2525 yesterday.
Seventy-two people with swine flu were currently in hospital, with 23 of those in intensive care.
