12 noon CDHB update

Following a telephone conference held this morning at 10am, here is an update on the status of services and Canterbury District Health Board sites:

• All sites, including rural are operating as normal with one exception (see next bullet point). Mains power was restored to Burwood Hospital yesterday evening. The birthing unit at Burwood has now re-opened and able to take new admissions as normal.

• Structural engineers have reported that although there is some new damage to buildings, there is none that people should be concerned about. All CDHB buildings are rechecked by structural engineers each time there is a significant aftershock.

• Wards 27 and 28 at Christchurch Hospital have been closed and patients relocated to an alternative location on site. This is primarily for the peace of mind of patients, their whanau and staff.

• The number of earthquake-related casualties arriving at the Emergency Department at Christchurch Hospital has been relatively small and in some cases hard to separate out from normal activity. There have been eight admissions over the last 20 hours, with all other cases treated or referred and discharged. Of the eight admissions, six were fractures and two were burns – none of these cases are considered serious.

• No boil water notices have been issued for Christchurch and surrounds, other than as a precaution for The Princess Margaret and Christchurch Hospitals which have their own bores. Bottled water is being made available at these facilities.

• All 24 hour services are operating as normal. People should still access this service through their General Practice number in order to free up the Emergency Department for genuine emergencies. The 111 service is operating normally for emergencies.

• Christchurch City Council has reported some sewage discharge to the Heathcote estuary. Members of the public are advised to avoid contact with water in or around the estuary for 48 hours from the last significant aftershock (until at least 7am on Monday 26 December, providing there are no further significant aftershocks).

ENDS

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