the doctor in question indicated that the small town hospital ( level 2 ...whatever that means) would have been overwelmed(sp?)
an Eagle Air plane with 17 people on board
Granted this is an opinion, but i think that doctor might well have just been grandstanding, or more likely didn't have a clue about the size of the aircraft.
*All* hopsitals in the area ( remember .mil will have their own facilitys as well, and there will be a possibility of helicopter transfer to wellington) overwelmed by 17 casulties? don't make it laugh, rolling a bus produces more.