Earthquake Update 27 – Canterbury District Health Board

GENERAL PRACTICES AND PHARMACIES

• Most GPs and pharmacies in Canterbury are open. To find out whether your GP or local pharmacy is open, ring them first. Friday 18 March is a public holiday in Canterbury. The 24 Hour After Hours Surgery and Riccarton Clinic will be open for people requiring medical attention on Friday 18th. Please keep Christchurch Hospital’s Emergency Department for emergencies only.

• GP and prescription fees have returned to their usual rates. If the cost of visiting your GP is a problem, talk to your doctor as you may be eligible for special subsidised fees.

• If you are on a benefit, other than national superannuation - for example a sickness benefit or emergency payment, you will be able to visit any GP free of charge until 10 April 2011.

• Call your GP if you require medical attention. It is important you address your health concerns early with your general practice team. If it’s an emergency call 111.

• Ideally you will be able to visit your usual general practice team. If this is not possible, you should consult a nearby general practice team. You will pay similar fees to those charged to regular patients at that practice.

SHORT SHOWERS SHOW YOU CARE – TAKE CARE WITH WATER USE

Where you have water available at home, please use it sparingly as sewerage systems are broken and not able to cope with large volumes of waste water.

This applies when showering - remember that short showers show you care - and when flushing the toilet, ‘if it’s yellow let mellow; if it’s brown flush it down’.

SEWAGE HEALTH MESSAGE

Canterbury DHB advises people to avoid contact with sewage, even if it is on their property. If you need sewage removed from your property call Christchurch City Council on 941 8999.

If a person does come into contact with sewage, they should shower or wash thoroughly immediately afterwards and wash their clothes separately. If they do not have running water, they should visit a friend, family member or portable shower facility.

Pets that have had contact with sewage present a health risk to the pet and their owners, and should also be washed thoroughly.

WATER COOLERS

Inquiries have led to the Canterbury DHB advising any businesses or homes with water coolers to be aware of public health issues.

For the large bottle type with a plastic water container/reservoir that is filled from a tap:

• Contact your service provider to have the bottle and filter sanitised or replaced

• Fill the bottle with bottled or cooled boiled water under the boil water notice is lifted.

For plumbed in water coolers:

• Ensure your water filter is sanitised or replaced by your supplier

• Flush sanitised water through your system once the boil water notice is lifted.

DIABETES CENTRE & SOCIETY

The Diabetes Centre and Diabetes Christchurch Society at 550 Hagley Ave resume normal clinic activity from tomorrow.

The Diabetes Christchurch Society office and shop will be open from Monday-Friday 9am – 4pm and can be contacted on (03) 378 6266

The Diabetes Centre will be accepting referrals as usual and can be contacted Monday–Friday 8am -5pm on (03) 3640860

ELECTIVE SURGERY

Limited elective surgery has resumed. From today additional operating theatre lists will commence, however some patients will still need to have their surgery performed at other hospitals. Patients will be contacted regarding arrangements.

CANTERBURY DHB BUILDINGS

All hospital buildings have been checked by independent structural engineers. Other than those closed off or with restricted entry, the buildings have been assessed as safe to occupy. ‘Green stickers’ are being placed on the buildings.

ADDITIONAL PARKING AT CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL

The Christchurch City Council has provided additional parking for hospital use on the grassed area behind the Horticultural Centre Car Park (access to the right of the building). This is in addition to the Hagley Park car park near the tennis club, Access is off Riccarton Ave.

AGED CARE RESIDENTS

Families organising private transfers for aged care residents, whether to rest home, community, or who have already transferred family members, are requested to notify the Ministry of Social Development on 0800 999 727 to ensure payments transfer with the resident.

Families should also notify Canterbury DHB on 337 8937 and the district health board where they are being transferred to. For more information contact HeathCert on 0800 113 813.

Until the national state of emergency is lifted, there will be no relocations back to Christchurch.

SUPPORT AND COUNSELLING SERVICES

These have been extremely difficult times for all of us. Each of us may be affected in a different way.

Common experiences include: poor sleep, irritability, nervousness, unpleasant dreams, loss of energy, feeling of tiredness and a wide range of possible emotions such as anger, guilt or sadness.

In young children symptoms can include bedwetting, being “clingy” to a parent and displaying disruptive and disturbing behaviour. These are all normal and understandable responses. They will generally lessen over time. Support from friends and family helps with recovery.

If you are concerned about yourself or a family member or a friend, you encouraged to call: Special Helpline 0800 777 846. This service may offer immediate advice and support or may connect you with another helping agency.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE & PUBLIC HOLIDAY – FRIDAY 18 MARCH

The Christchurch City Council together with the New Zealand Government is holding the National Christchurch Memorial Service at North Hagley Park from 12pm this Friday 18 March to pay respect to the lives lost in the devastating February 22 earthquake. The service will be broadcast live on television and radio. The memorial service will go ahead rain or shine. People wanting more information on how to get to and from the event and what to bring should visit www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION

• Boil or treat all water from taps and tankers before drinking, brushing teeth or using in food preparation. Bringing water to the boil is sufficient to kill bugs. Water needs to be boiled even if the smell or taste of chlorine is present. If you cannot boil water, treat it by adding 1 teaspoon of household bleach per 10 litres of water and leave for 30 minutes.

• In parts of the city, sewerage pipes have broken or are breaking as services come back online. People should avoid sewage and silt that may have been contaminated with sewage, even if it is on their properties. If you need sewage removed from your property call Christchurch City Council on 941 8999. If people have to work with silt they should wear water-proof gloves, gumboots and a dust mask. People should also shower or wash thoroughly immediately after contact with either sewage or silt, and wash clothes separately.

• Waterways are contaminated with sewage. Avoid contact with rivers, sea water, ponds, puddles or other surface water. Do not swim, paddle, fish, or gather shellfish or any other food from oceans and rivers.

• Take care when disposing of human waste (faeces, poo, vomit etc). Only solid waste can go into your red bin, and should be tightly wrapped in plastic. Wash your hands immediately after dealing with any human waste

• Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser often, particularly after toileting, and before and after eating or preparing food.

• If you don’t have running water, make a plan to move in with a friend or relative who has running water if you get sick. When you are sick, running water (for hand washing and toileting) is much more important.

• If you are sick, try to limit contact with other people, do not go to work and do not prepare food for anyone.

• Take extreme care with food – particularly with food that should be refrigerated. Dispose of smelly, slimy, mouldy or discoloured food immediately. Do not refreeze food once power returns.

• Water coolers – don’t use them until the boil water notice is lifted. When the boil water notice if lifted, ensure they are cleaned or maintained before resuming use.

• Dishwashers - a full hot wash with detergent (not economy wash) must be used. Dishes must be allowed to dry fully prior to re-use.

DON’T SWIM IN RIVERS AND BEACHES

Do not swim in rivers and beaches where raw sewage may be present. Locations include all beaches between the Waimakariri River and Lyttelton Harbour. Anyone with symptoms (vomiting and/or diarrhoea) should phone their GP or pharmacy for advice.

WATER COLLECTION

Details of locations are of water collection available at http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/water-tanker-timetable-for-deliveries Residents must take their own containers and remember to boil all water before use. You can also collect health information and facemasks from the tankers.

WATER TESTING PROGRAMME

Water testers are visiting homes across the city to test water. These homes have been selected because they are in a good position to provide a sample representative of specific suburbs, or simply because an outside tap is easy to access and not because there is a greater risk of contamination of their water supply.

The purpose of the testing is to understand if there is any contamination in the community water supply, not to test individual homes. Individual results will not be provided and people still need to boil or treat drinking water even after their supply has been tested.

PHONE SURVEY

Canterbury DHB is undertaking a telephone survey of Christchurch residents to gather information on the prevalence of gastroenteritis, respiratory illness or other illnesses in Christchurch after the February 22 earthquake. The survey is also being used to understand if residents have access to essential health services, such as a GP or pharmacy, and whether they are following advice to boil or treat their water.

Initially, the survey will be carried out each week for four weeks. Five hundred Christchurch residents from across the city, chosen at random, will be contacted each week to provide feedback on health issues and access to services. The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. HOSPITAL SHUTTLE BUS SERVICES

The following arrangements are in place to assist with transport to and parking around Christchurch Hospital:

Hillmorton Hospital “Park & Ride” Shuttle Service – parking on the playing field at Hillmorton Hospital is available and directions from the main hospital entrance on Annex Rd are signposted. Two Canterbury DHB minibuses are operating hourly between Hillmorton and Christchurch between 0830 (1st Hillmorton Departure) and 1700 (last Christchurch departure). Minibuses leave from the main Entrance to Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

Burwood Hospital “Coach” Shuttle Service – parking is available from entrance B2 off Burwood Rd and is signposted from there. When entering gate B2 at Burwood, the coach departure point is on the left about 25 metres past the gate. Coaches departing Christchurch Hospital leave from Oxford Terrace immediately below the Emergency Department.

Burwood departure times: 0615 0800 1400 1600 2200

Christchurch Hospital departure times: 0715 1530 1700 2315

RECOVERY ASSISTANCE CENTRES (RACs)

Recovery Assistance Centres are one-stop-shops where people can access welfare information and services. They bring together central, local government and non government organisations. Each RAC has visiting or on-call health staff.

This includes a designated Partnership Community Worker (PCW) who can link those in need with relevant health and social services and ensure they are linked in to a General Practice team. The PCW can also organise transport to help the patient get to a GP or a hospital appointment or to a social service agency. RACs also have visiting Health Protection Officers.

RACs are open week days 8.30am to 5.00pm & weekends 9.00am to 4.00pm and are located at:

• Linwood Community Link, 154 Aldwins Road

• Linwood Wainoni Aranui Recreation Centre, 31 Hampshire Street

• Wainoni Parklands Baptist Church, 180 Queenspark Drive

• Parklands St Faiths Hall, 46 Hawke Street

• New Brighton Nga Hau e Wha Marae, 250 Pages Road

• Aranui Shirley Rugby Club, Burwood Park, New Brighton Road, Shirley/Dallington

• Lyttelton Recreation Centre, 25 Winchester Street, Lyttelton

• Sydenham Community Centre, 23-25 Hutcheson Street, Sydenham

• Hagley Old Boys Cricket Club, Hagley Oval, Riccarton Avenue.

• Mt Pleasant Yacht Club, 21 Main Road Mt Pleasant (by the Ferrymead Bridge)

More information on RACs visit www.msd.govt.nz/emergency/recovery-assistance-centres.html

RECOVERY INFORMATION KIOSKS

Recovery Information Kiosks have opened throughout Christchurch. The kiosks are placed within communities, where people can get information on the help available.

The kiosks are unmanned and are located at:

• Waipuna Youth and Community Trust, 349 Woodham Road

• Delta Trust, 105 North Avon Road

• Aranui Seventh Day Adventist Church, cnr Pages Rd and Rowan Ave

• Aranui Heartlands, 37-45 Hampshire Street

• South Christchurch Library, 66 Colombo Street

• Christchurch Bishopdale Library, 13 Bishopdale Court, Bishopdale Shopping Centre

• Little River Library, State Highway 75, Little River

• Akaroa Heartland Service Centre 39 Rue Lavaud

• Akaroa Library, 2 Selwyn Ave

Helplines

• ACC – People wanting to know what their entitlements are 0800 101 996

• Healthline – Health advice 24-hours a day, seven days a week 0800 611 116

• Red Cross – 0800 733 276. People who have relocated outside of Christchurch are urged to contact the Red Cross.

• Urgent mental health advice – Psychiatric Emergency Service on 03 3640 482 or 0800 920 092

• Urgent Dental Care – If you can’t contact your own dentist 335 4260. After hours 027 683 0679

• Meals on wheels – 337 7797

• Plunket Line continues to operate 24hours 7days, free calling, including from cell phones - 0800 933 922

• Vulnerable older people – that urgently require assistance because of health or disability needs should contact Older Persons Health on 337 7765 for assessment and advice.

• Relocated older people – if you are unable to contact their usual aged residential care provider to confirm their location, please phone 337 8937 for information.

• Dialysis – helpline 0800 881919

• Ambulance – 111

• Pegasus 24-hour medical centre in Bealey Avenue – 365 7777

• Water collection locations – http://canterburyearthquake.orgnz/water-tanker-timetable-for-deliveries/

• Coping strategies - stress and anxiety – The Ministry of Health has created a series of fact sheets with advice and coping strategies for people experiencing stress or anxiety in the wake of this week's tragedy. These can be found on the Ministry's website - www.moh.govt.nz - under the banner headline ‘Christchurch Earthquake’

• Mental Health Nurses – are available to provide support in the community. Please phone your GP Team for information.

• Other useful websites include – www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz www.civildefence.co.nz

ENDS

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