Earthquake Update Sixteen – Canterbury District Health Board

Commemoration

At 12.51pm today there was two minutes silence to mark the one-week anniversary of the 22 February earthquake, and to remember the colleagues, friends and family members we have lost.

Water

Water has been restored to 60% of households. Tankers are delivering water to areas without supply. You can also collect hand sanitser or facemasks from the Tankers.

You can expect water supply to be intermittent for the next two to three weeks.

Remember to boil ALL water before drinking, including tanker water, de-salinated water, and normal tap water. The City Council will advise when it is no longer necessary to boil or treat tap water.

The team working on the water situation is rising from 86 to 120.

Supply is often turned off soon after being restored so that leaks can be checked and then repaired This will affect mainly the eastern side of the city.

Chlorination of water supply

From today the city’s water supply will begin to be chlorinated throughout Central Christchurch.

However, the public are advised to continue to boil drinking water

This is due to infrastructure damage to sewerage and water pipes following the earthquake.

Adding chlorine to our water helps to kill disease-causing bacteria in the water or pipes.

Chlorine levels will be maintained at the standard levels around New Zealand and the world.

Christchurch is currently the only city in New Zealand that does not add chlorine to its water.

Chlorine will affect the taste of the water. Once the water supply is secure and waste water is under control, chlorine will be removed from the water.

Chlorination is an issue for anyone on dialysis. A free-phone dialysis helpline is available on 0800 881919. Any person who needs dialysis in the metropolitan area of Christchurch and is at risk has been moved to the North Island. In the future there maybe a potential issue, buts it very manageable as filtration can be fitted to the dialysis machine.

If staff have any concerns they can contact Adrian Buttimore, Dialysis Services Manager at Christchurch Hospital on 03 364 0640 and ask for Adrian to be paged on 8202.

Please stay away from beaches

You are urgently being asked to stay away from all Christchurch beaches, as seawater is currently contaminated with sewage.

Contaminated water poses a serious health threat, with risk of disease.

While contamination at the beaches may not be visually obvious, residents are advised that the health risk is very real.

Until the Council are confident it’s safe to swim in the ocean, the public are strongly urged to avoid all local beaches.

Work to repair storm water pipes is ongoing and the public will be advised when seawater is safe to swim in.

Residents are also being reminded to stay away from rivers and the estuary, because of overflows into the Avon and Heathcote rivers.

Treat silt as contaminated

Work crews and volunteers are removing silt from roads across the city.

As of last night, 120,000 tonnes of silt had been gathered.

The original estimate of 180,000 tonnes is being revised upwards and so it will take three or four days longer than was once indicated.

Silt should be treated as potentially contaminated and the usual precautions should apply when dealing with this matter. Wash and dry hands, use sanitiser and wear a mask if you are susceptible to dust.

Translations

Key health messages will be translated into a number of languages and will be given to staff on Operation Suburbs when available.

Plunket services in Christchurch

None of the central city Plunket rooms in Christchurch have water, sewerage or power. Normal Plunket services and home visits are suspended, but Plunket has initiated a number of actions to support parents and young children.

While many Plunket nurses and their families in Canterbury were directly affected by the earthquake, many are also providing support to Christchurch families with young children. Plunket nurses from rural Canterbury are assisting in Christchurch.

Plunket nurses have been helping families at the Welfare Centres, and Plunket nurses have been invited to support families at the Cowles Stadium Medical Centre. This will be in place by tomorrow (Tuesday 1 March).

Plunket is soon to commence phoning all Christchurch families with enrolled infants and young children, starting with the youngest (4 weeks old) and moving through to older children, to establish who is still in town. Plunket will offer advice and support, and also advice on where to go or who to contact for other support services if needed.

Parents can also phone PlunketLine on 0800 933 922 for information and support from Plunket nurses. PlunketLine has experienced an increase in calls from Canterbury and from families who have relocated out of Christchurch.

Plunket clients who have left Christchurch are encouraged to contact the local Plunket office or clinic in their new location, or to phone PlunketLine to re-establish contact with Plunket services.

From today Plunket is responding to numerous requests for car seats.

Prescription fees waived until Sunday 6 March

Patients will not have to pay the $3 co-payment or any other part-charges or premiums on their prescriptions until Sunday March 6.

96 pharmacies are now open, with 19 still closed, 5 of which have relocated. Some pharmacies are managing in reduced space, and delivery of required medicines is the priority.

Free GP care until Sunday 6 March

Canterbury residents with urgent medical needs can visit a GP free of charge until end of day next Sunday (6 March).

If you need medical care phone your own General Practice team first

90 of the 106 General Practices are now open. Phone your own General Practice (GP) Team first – if they’re not open a nurse will answer the call and direct you to the nearest general practice that’s open.

If your own GP’s phone isn’t working or you do not have a general practice please contact the Pegasus 24-hour medical centre in Bealey Avenue – 365 7777, the Riccarton Clinic, 3433661, (8am – 8pm daily) Moorhouse Medical, 3657900 (8am – 8pm daily)

The Pegasus 24 hour surgery have a team of nurses able to provide health advice and can provide self-care advice on how to care for minor injuries and illnesses at home Attendance was at ‘weekend’ rates yesterday with 226 presentations.

The Rural GP Practice in Kaiapoi is also providing 24-hour services to patients in Christchurch who are not able to access their own GP Teams. All rural practices report increased workflows, as city residents move further out.

Please keep Christchurch Hospital for emergencies only. If you need an ambulance, please phone 111.

A new website has been launched providing useful health information for the public http://www.healthinfo.org.nz/

Gastroenteritis

The incidence of gastroenteritis remains sporadic, with no large clusters indicating an outbreak. Water is now on to 60% of households. You must still bring to the boil all water used for drinking, food preparation and teeth cleaning

Do not swim in rivers and beaches, where raw sewerage may be present.

Healthline - phone: 0800 611 116

Healthline provides health advice 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Phone: 0800 611 116. Calls are answered by a registered nurse. Healthline uses language line and can access translators in many languages. Healthline can also transfer callers to mental health professionals for advice and support.

Midwifery care Pregnant women or new mothers leaving Christchurch for other parts of the country should contact the maternity unit at their new DHB to find a new midwife, if this hasn't already been arranged. Where possible women leaving Christchurch receiving midwifery care should let them know they're leaving so they can provide maternity notes to assist in the transfer of care.

Hospital Services

Further detailed information on the availability of Christchurch Hosptial services can be found on the Canterbury DHB website www.cdhb.govt.nz

Christchurch hospital

Visitors to hospital are reminded to clean their hands with alcohol gel before entering clinical areas. This is available at the entrance to all clinical areas.

Hospital services are continuing to provide care for hundreds of inpatients and there are no capacity issues. Hospital buildings are constantly being checked for damage by structural engineers.

Staffing levels are good and have been boosted by colleagues from around the country. Stable patients continue to be transferred to other hospitals to free beds for the seriously ill.

There are no capacity issues. The number of patients in ICU remains stable at 12.

Canterbury DHB staff are to turn up to work for their normal rostered hours and are not required to come in outside of their rostered hours. It’s important

Lyndhurst Centre is closed until Monday and women with appointments will be contacted by a staff member.

Rangiora and Lincoln birthing units are open.

Limited elective surgery will resume on Monday 7 March.

Elective surgery will recommence in Christchurch on Monday 7, with a reduced capacity. The clinical Directors will meet tomorrow to confirm the plan, where available capacity will be spread across all surgical specialities.

Patient parking & new shuttle bus for patients

Patients with appointments at Christchurch and Womens Hospital are asked to park at Hillmorton Hospital and catch the free shuttle which will take them to the main entrance at Christchurch Hospital. Parking will be free

Access to the parking at Hillmorton is via the main entrance on Annex road off Lincoln road and will be sign posted.

The shuttles will run from 08:00 to 17:00. Leaving Hillmorton on the ½ hour and Christchurch Hospital on the hour. Pick up at Christchurch Hospital will be the main entrance

Looking for an injured family member who may be in hospital?

Relatives looking for injured family members at Christchurch Hospital should go to the Great Escape Café in the main foyer where a relative centre has been set up and there are social workers and police available. To report missing people, contact Red Cross 0800 733 276.

The relative care centre at the Great Escape café is staffed by Social Workers. Police will be located at the Papanui Liaison office at Papanui Police Station.

CDHB has set up a Facebook page for staff

Staff can keep up to date via Canterbury District Health Board’s Facebook page.

Emails of support for Canterbury District Health Board

If you would like to send a message of support to Canterbury District Health Board staff please email messagesofsupport@cdhb.govt.nz

Canterbury Health Labs

Canterbury Health Labs are fully operational including their collection rooms at CHL (opposite main hospital entrance), TPMH and Burwood

CHL collection rooms will also be open on Saturday morning 0800 – 1100 hours

The Diabetes Centre and Diabetes Christchurch Society at 550 Hagley Ave are closed until further notice. Appointments at the Diabetes Outpatient Clinics are cancelled until further notice. The Diabetes Team and the Society are operating very limited services from Parkside Outpatients, Christchurch Hospital. If you have any diabetes emergencies, please contact your GP in the first instance. If you are unable to find a GP, limited medical services are being offered at Cowles Stadium. A diabetes triage nurse is operating from Christchurch Hospital and is available Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5pm on 027 4543052. Alternatively call Christchurch Hospital 3640640 during these hours and ask to be put through.

Diabetes test strips and medications are free from your local chemist until Sunday 6 March. A limited supply of free meters is available at Cowles Stadium.

Dental care

The New Zealand Dental Association advises all patients in need of emergency or routine dental care to contact their own dentist first. If you can’t contact your own dentist, the oral health emergency centre has been relocated to Hillmorton. This is a Monday to Friday service only. For appointments ph 335 4260 A mobile clinic is available at the Cowles Stadium Field hospital. Christchurch dentists have an after-hours service. The contact number is 027 683 0679.

Check on your neighbours and keep in touch with family and friends

At times like this it’s important to look out for elderly neighbours and others who live alone.

Methadone patients

If you are a methadone patient and your usual pharmacy is closed, phone the Community Alcohol and Drug Service (CADS) on 335 4350 and they will direct you to the nearest pharmacy.

Meals on wheels

If you have elderly neighbours or people who live alone, please check on them and help out if you can with meals and support. Anyone wanting to contact the Meals on Wheels office please telephone 03 337 7797.

Rest home residents being relocated

A number of Aged Residential Care facilities sustained extensive damage in the earthquake and were unable to safely care for residents. It became necessary to swiftly relocate people to care facilities in other parts of the country in order to ensure their safety.

261 rest home residents have been transferred out of Christchurch to other regions, from Invercargill to Auckland.

The volume and speed of transfers has meant that we have not been able to follow our usual process of working closely with families. Our social workers and the receiving DHB staff from around the country are contacting families affected by this transfer.

It is essential that all Canterbury aged residential care placements (including transfers within the Canterbury District) continue to be managed through Older Persons Health Specialist Service SPOE (3377765) and Psychiatric Services for the Elderly SPOE (3377501).

This is necessary to ensure our Canterbury resources are prioritised according to highest need.

If you believe your relative may have been relocated and you are unable to contact their usual aged residential care provider to confirm their location, please phone 337 8937 for information.

Respite care capacity is significantly limited and access is via GP referral only.

Vulnerable older people that urgently require assistance because of health or disability needs should contact Older Persons Health on (03) 337 7765 for assessment and advice.

Despite there being extreme pressure on Aged Residential Care beds within Canterbury, the Canterbury DHB is able to help people access services outside the region if necessary.

The Canterbury DHB is also establishing an additional respite service for older people in Christchurch.

Health care at welfare centres

St John Ambulance, Public Health Nurses and army medics are working together at Welfare Centres. The public health nurses will be working at the Welfare Centres focusing on infection control, hand hygiene and isolating any cases of suspected gastroenteritis or measles. Teams will be on site every day while the centres are open.

Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Welfare Centres are currently located at:

Pioneer Stadium, 75 Lyttelton Street, Spreydon (123 people currently located here)

Baptist Church, East Belt, Rangiora (86 people currently located here)

Burnside High School, 151 Greers Road, Burnside (180 people currently located here)

Windsor School, 170 Burwood Road, Burwood (157 located here)

Cowles Stadium (Pages Road) is an information centre that can link you to the support you need.

Work and Income offices

People can also visit these Work and Income offices between 9am and 5pm weekdays and 9am to 4pm on weekends.

New Brighton, 26 Beresford Street (Please note, this is not a welfare centre as stated in some advertising)

Hornby, 25 Shands Road

Riccarton, 76 Riccarton Road

Rangiora, Corner of Good and Blake Street

Kaiapoi Community Link, Unit 9 The Crossings, 77 Hilton Street

Ashburton Community Link, Corner of Cass and Moore Street

Shirley, 203-205 Hills Road

Non MSD Centres are located at

Ashburton – 30o people registered, usually 50 present at any one time

Rapaki – 40 people

Rehua Marae – 60 people

New Welfare Centres have also been set up at New Brighton at Roy Stokes Hall 140 Seaview Road under the guidance of the New Zealand Police and at Windsor Road Primary School run by the Red Cross.

Community Medical Centre, Cowles Stadium, Pages Road.

The Australian Army Field Community Medical Centre is open 7 days 8am – 8 pm.

Supporting General Practices in the eastern suburbs, the 75-bed facility is staffed by Australian clinicians with some local support from doctors and nurses. Like all Christchurch General Practices, the Centre provides free primary care until Sunday night March 6. A mobile community dental clinic is also operating on the site.

Emotional responses to the recent crisis

It’s normal to be feeling very stressed at the moment. Everyone is affected in different ways. Some of us may feel very anxious or low in spirits. Some of us may feel it’s hard to function. If you are worried about yourself or a family member, please talk to someone in your general practice team. They can call on a wide range of mental health and counselling services, and more counsellors are being brought in to help.

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.

ENDS

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