Friday 10 September 2010

MEDIA UPDATE

Additional Staff Now on the Job

Canterbury DHB is grateful for the offers of assistance from health professionals around New Zealand following Saturday’s earthquake. Approximately 63 staff have arrived in the past 48 hours to assist staff working across the healthy system in Canterbury to provide the service our patients need now more than ever.

Registered nurses, health care assistants, allied health and public health staff have volunteered their services to work in Canterbury over the next week to relieve staff, particularly in areas that are short-staffed. The majority of staff have been allocated to work in Christchurch and The Princess Margaret Hospitals, and also in some residential care facilities such as Windsor House.

Staff have arrived from as far north as Auckland DHB and as far south as Southern DHB. CDHB has set up a process to match the national staff to the service requirements and are providing an orientation to ensure visiting staff are well prepared to undertake their rostered duties.

HOSPITAL SERVICES

All non-urgent elective surgery is cancelled up to and including Monday. At this stage we are hopeful of a gradual return to business as usual from Tuesday.

Our anticipated plan (subject to no further significant quakes) is to start working towards a return to business as usual across all sites.

• All outpatient clinics at all sites up will be and running from Monday.

• Elective surgery will continue to be deferred up to and including Monday. Scheduled Caesarean sections and inductions will continue. Only urgent cases and acute surgery will proceed on Monday and we are aiming to return to usual capacity from Tuesday 14 September.

• The plan is for elective surgery to return to business as usual at Burwood from Monday.

• Any patients affected by changes or cancellations will be contacted.

Building checks have continued across all sites again today, and all key CDHB buildings remain safe and structurally sound.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since the quake:

• security has used five rolls of hazard tape – approx 300m long.

• 120,000 litres of drinking water were supplied to CDHB health services.

• all CDHB emergency power generators were online within 15 seconds of losing power.

• CDHB staff visited the www.geonet.org.nz website 18,700 times this week, looking at the quakes and shakes, while Stuff slipped into second place with www.stuff.co.nz 9,500 visits.

EXTRA CARE FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY

The new temporary respite care facility at Princess Margaret Hospital has provided a useful overflow facility with the ‘full house’ sign going up today. Additional respite beds have been identified with community-based aged care providers.

Referrals to these short-term beds are through the usual channels (GPs) and via the Community Welfare Centres. During this state of emergency home support service providers are prioritising services for people with health, hygiene, food and nutrition needs. This means that in some cases housework (cleaning) will not be able to be completed on all scheduled occasions. Changing circumstances may also lead to some delays in other services. We ask for your patience at this difficult time. If you or a loved one has urgent concerns please contact your GP or service provider for assistance.

PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGES

People need to take the following advice to avoid getting sick with stomach bugs and other illnesses. When you’re cleaning up rubble and other potentially contaminated areas remember to wash and dry your hands frequently – especially before eating or drinking.

Hand Washing

Frequent handwashing needs to be emphasised. Remind people to wash hands, particularly after:

• Using the toilet

• Before and after preparing food

• Handling rubbish or waste

• Cleaning toilets, bathrooms

• Handling soiled clothing or bed linen

• Handling cleaning equipment such as cloths, buckets and mops

Hand washing stops diseases spreading. Cold water is fine as long as soap is used and hands are thoroughly dried. Where people do not have access to water, alcohol gel is a good alternative. Hands do not need to be dried if alcohol gel is used.

Drinking Water

As of today (10 September) the only community water supplies which still require water to be boiled before drinking are:

- Selwyn District: Malvern Hills.

- Waimakariri District: Kaiapoi, Kairaki and Pines Beach.

People on those water supplies should still boil their water. All tap water should be boiled for one minute before drinking, brushing teeth or washing/preparing food.

Water being boiled in a pot should be boiled for one minute & water being boiled in a jug should be brought to the boil twice

People on other community water supplies in Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, Waimakariri and Selwyn Districts no longer need to boil water before drinking.

Surface Water

People should avoid contact with sewage. Assume river, sea water and any other surface water is contaminated with sewage. People should stay away and not swim, fish or gather shellfish in the sea, Canterbury rivers or any areas of standing water until notified.

People who have sewage contamination within their home should move out to alternative accommodation.

Contact with neighbours/friends

People are encouraged to look after each other. Advise people to keep in touch with families, friends and neighbours and support each other.

People who are unwell

Anyone who is unwell with a minor injury or illness and needs medical assistance should be advised to call their General Practice or nearest after hours surgery. The Emergency Department must be kept for emergencies only. If you need an ambulance dial 111.

Gastroenteritis

The Communicable Disease Team of the Community & Public Health Division of Canterbury District Health Board are monitoring any reports of vomiting and diarrhoea (gastroenteritis)

PRIMARY (GP) CARE & PHARMACY SERVICES

General practice is up and running in Canterbury. If you need to see a doctor, please phone or go to your usual general practice.

Pharmacies

Most pharmacies in Canterbury are operating as usual. If your usual pharmacy is closed go to the nearest pharmacy – your GP practice will be able to advise you. The Urgent Pharmacy in Bealey Avenue is now open its usual hours (i.e. after hours and Saturday and Sunday)

Health advice

Canterbury District Health Board recommends that people seeking health advice phone their general practice. The calls will be answered or redirected to a nurse 24 hours a day.

In addition, Healthline provides free health advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week 0800 611 116.

Callers to Healthline are now presented with four options:

• Press 1 for influenza information (recorded information message plus option to go through to Healthline to speak with a registered nurse)
• Press 2 for Canterbury earthquake-related information (recorded information message plus option to go through to the Ministry of Health)
• Press 3 to speak with a mental health professional for advice and support regarding the earthquake (service intended for Canterbury residents)
• For all other symptoms and advice callers should stay on the line to speak with a Healthline nurse

ENDS

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