Media Update Six – Canterbury District Health Board

23 February 2011

EARTHQUAKE MEDIA UPDATE SIX – CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD

Please attribute to Canterbury District Health Board Chief Executive David Meates:

CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL IS OPERATIONAL

Contingency plans are working well at Christchurch Hospital, which is fully operational and receiving patients. Staffing levels are good and have been boosted by colleagues from around the country.

CANTERBURY DHB STAFF ARE TO TURN UP TO WORK FOR THEIR NORMAL ROSTERED HOURS

Staff are not required to come in outside of their rostered hours. Please check with your manager what these hours are.

TAKE YOUR MEDICATIONS WITH YOU

If you’re moving out of your home or leaving Christchurch remember to take your regular medications and prescriptions with you

BOIL ALL WATER – EVEN IF IT’S COME FROM A WATER TANKER

Less than half the city has had reticulated water supplies restored, however, everyone living in Christchurch should continue to assume tap water is contaminated and unsafe to drink until advised otherwise by Council.

All water (from a tap or a tanker) 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 kettle should be brought to the boil twice.

Councils will be testing water supplies intensively and will advise when the water is safe to use without boiling. Even though water may look clear, it should be treated as contaminated and unsafe to drink because of damaged underground water and sewage pipes. Do not use river water for drinking or washing.

FREE GP CARE UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT

Canterbury residents with urgent medical needs can visit a GP free of charge until tomorrow night. It’s important you phone your own GP first – if they’re not open a nurse will answer the call and direct you to the nearest GP practice that’s open.

If the phones are not working, then visit your nearest after hours medical centre.

The Pegasus 24 hour medical centre in Bealey Avenue is open tonight and the after hours clinics at Moorhouse Medical Centre and the Riccarton Clinic will be open tomorrow between 8am and 8pm.

About 30% of Christchurch’s GP practices were open for business today (February 23) and it’s expected about 60% will be operating tomorrow (February 24). This is considerably down on the September 4, 2010 quake when 90% of practices were open from day one.

45 DIALYSIS PATIENTS & CAREGIVERS ARE BEING FLOWN TO AUCKLAND BY THE AIRFORCE

The Royal New Zealand Airforce has tonight flown dialysis patients and their caregivers to Auckland where they will be transferred to either Auckland, Middlemore or Waikato Hospitals. The patients have needed to be transferred because of water quality issues in Christchurch and dialysis machines here needing to be recalibrated.

CHRISTCHURCH WOMEN’S HOSPITAL IS OPEN & RECEIVING PATIENTS

Burwood birthing units are closed today.

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

Rangiora and Lincoln birthing units are open.

VULNERABLE AND OLDER PEOPLE

More than 100 rest home residents are being relocated. Many are being collected and taken home with family and friends, while others are being transferred to safe alternative accommodation both in Christchurch and outside the region.

Resthome staff are doing an amazing job keeping their residents safe and well looked after despite the trying circumstances.

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

Access to respite care services is via GP referral only.

ELECTIVE SURGERY AND OUTPATIENTS

All elective surgery and outpatient appointments are postponed until Tuesday.

Paediatric clinics are closed for the rest of the week.

Community Oncology there will be no appointments for chemotherapy and radiotherapy until Monday unless patients are individually contacted earlier. All patients will be contacted in due course.

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.

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 NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK

Meals on wheels are not available for the rest of the week – if you have elderly neighbours or people who live alone, please check on them and help out if you can with meals and support.

OTHER KEY PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGES

People need to take the following advice to avoid getting sick with stomach bugs and other illnesses.

Surface waters

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 standing water until notified.

People who have sewage contamination within their homes should be advised to move to alternative accommodation.

Make sure you wear shoes, due to broken glass, debris and sewage leaks.

Toilets

Conserve water if you have it.

People should be advised to flush toilets sparingly.

“If its yellow let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.”

People who do not have a flushing toilet are advised to make a temporary toilet with a bin lined with two plastic bags. The bin should be covered between uses. The contents can be buried when the bin is no longer needed. Details of how to make a temporary toilet can be found at http://www.moh.govt.nz/mohnsf/indexmh/protecting-your-health-in-an-emergency

Hand washing

Frequent hand washing needs to be emphasised. 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.

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.

Dishwashers

Conserve water if you have it

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

Contact with neighbours/friends

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

Food safety

Members of the public and food business operators should phone the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) on 0800 693 721 (0800 NZFSA1) if they have any enquiries.

PHARMACIES THAT ARE OPEN TOMORROW

All Ashburton pharmacies are open

Airport Pharmacy Ltd

Akaroa Pharmacy

Amberley Pharmacy Ltd

Avonhead Pharmacy Ltd

Barrington Health Centre Pharmacy

Wilsons Barrington Pharmacy

Barrington Unichem Pharmacy

Bastins Pharmacy

Belfast Pharmacy

Bells Pharmacy Lyttelton Ltd

Bush Inn Pharmacy Ltd

Unichem Bishopdale Pharmacy

Casebrook Pharmacy Ltd

Centre Court Pharmacy

Dales Pharmacy Ltd

Darfield Pharmacy

Ewart Douglas Pharmacy

Elmwood Pharmacy

Fendalton Mall Pharmacy

Ferry Road Pharmacy

Graeme Smith Pharmacy

Halswell Masons Pharmacy

Hammersley Pharmacy

Hardings Chemist

Hardings Pharmacy

HealthWorks Pharmacy

Hei Hei Pharmacy

Hillmorton Pharmacy

Hoon Hay Pharmacy

Hornby Unichem

Ilam Pharmacy

Kaiapoi Crossing Pharmacy

Kaiapoi Amcal

Kendall Pharmacy

Kirk Road Templeton Pharmacy

King Medicine Management (open for Resthomes only)

Leeston Pharmacy

Lincoln Pharmacy

Linwood Dispensary Limited (Urgent patients only)

Mairehau Pharmacy

Netherby Pharmacy

North Avon Pharmacy Practice

Oxford Pharmacy

Papanui Pharmacy

Parklands Pharmacy

Radius Church Corner

Rangiora Pharmacy

Redwood Pharmacy

Rolleston Pharmacy

Stantons Pharmacy

Unichem Ashburton

Wairakei Road Pharmacy

Merivale Medical Centre Pharmacy

Stavely Street Pharmacy

Searles Allenton Pharmacy

Selwyn Community Pharmacy

Shields Pharmacy

Skelley & Amcal Chemist

Spreydon Pharmacy

Staywell Pharmacy

Waltham Pharmacy

Wise’s Pharmacy

Wyatt Chemist

Union Street Pharmacy

ENDS

A further update will be issued tomorrow morning.

Please note: we won’t have accurate figures on the numbers of people treated and admitted/transferred to and from Christchurch Hospital until later tomorrow.

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