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EARTHQUAKE UPDATE THIRTY SEVEN– CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD
HAGLEY
HOSTEL FAREWELLED
Former staff and residents of Hagley Hostel gathered to say their
farewells to the building earlier this week before demolition starts
later next week. The building has been extensively damaged by the
September and February earthquakes and is extremely unsafe.
The first step in the demolition process, provided it’s safe to do so, will be to rescue a collection of old research records that have been stored in the building as well as heritage items, such as lead-lights, doors, and other special features of the building, which have been identified to have historical significance.
Salvaging of these
items is expected to begin later week. However,
items can ONLY be rescued PROVIDED NO ONE’S SAFETY IS PUT AT RISK. The
items WILL NOT be retrieved if there’s any sign safety could be
compromised.
Keeping Our Families Safe
In
stressful times like these, family relationships can become strained. If
you are finding life difficult make sure you talk to someone you trust
about how you are feeling. You can also call the Right Service Right
Time counselling and support line on 0800 777 846. Alcohol can
contribute to tensions among families, so try to limit your drinking.
Regardless of the circumstances, family violence is a crime. In an emergency dial 111 and ask for the Police. It can be difficult for people in violent relationships to ask for help - but there are organisations that are there to assist.
For more information go to:
Victim Support groups are located throughout the country – look in the white pages of the phone
FLU IMMUNISATION CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY
To help stay well this winter, have a flu vaccination. Anyone can
have one but they are free for pregnant women, anyone who has a long
term illness, people aged over 65 years and anyone younger than 18
years. See your General Practice team for your vaccination or check
whether your employer is providing them free to staff.
KEEP WARM – EAT
WELL
Government agencies are working to keep Canterbury people healthy and
safe through winter following the September and February earthquakes.
Agencies are working together to help people prepare for the additional challenges of winter.
A lot of work has already gone into restoring heating to homes that lost their primary source and making homes weather tight.
Common repairs include those to roofs, chimneys, hot water cylinders, work to windows and doors and clearing drains.
Fletcher EQR, contracted by the Earthquake Commission, expects the 4,500 priority winter heating repairs initially estimated to be needed in Christchurch will be completed by mid May, and is actively seeking to identify further households where such repairs are needed.
The Clean Heat Hub established earlier this year has made 25,000 calls to identify priority cases, based on data from a variety of sources. About 4,000 heating units have been ordered, installed or repaired to date, including heat pumps and different varieties of solid fuel burner. Orders are being placed at up to 1,000 per week.
If you are still without your main form of heating or your house isn't weather tight, then contact 0800DAMAGE or email heating@eqr.co.nz."
If you or a family member is sick, visit your GP early for advice.
To help stay warm, eat warm food, have hot drinks and dress yourself and any children in your family in layers of warm clothing, even when you are at home.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially from your family or neighbours. Keep an eye out for each other, especially if there are vulnerable people in your neighbourhood such as those who are elderly or unwell.
· If your home or heating has been earthquake damaged, your first priority will be to stay warm and healthy. Environment Canterbury will not take action if the earthquake means you are not able to meet the clean air rules. This recognises that you may need to use whatever safe means you have available including an open fire or non-compliant wood burner. We advise you to check that any heating is safe to use and we welcome calls if you are concerned about your individual circumstances. Phone Environment Canterbury customer services 0800 324636
HEALTH WARNING
LIFTED IN LYTTLETON HARBOUR & TAYLOR’S MISTAKE
The
Community and Public Health division of Canterbury District Health Board
last week lifted the health warning at Taylors Mistake and in Lyttelton
Harbour Pegasus Bay beaches north of the Waimakariri River and including
Spencerville remain unaffected and safe for recreational use.
People are reminded that while water is safe during dry weather there is the occasional high levels of contamination following heavy rainfall and people should avoid contact with all waterways for 48 hours after heavy rainfall.
Warnings remain for the waterways of Avon/Otakaro and the Heathcote/Opawaho rivers, the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai, and Pegasus Bay beaches adjacent to Christchurch because of ongoing sewage discharges.
The only exception to this is Punting on the Avon which follows rigorous guidelines to protect staff and customers from any risk.
Water contaminated by human or animal faecal bacteria may contain a range of disease causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.
In most cases the ill-health effects from exposure to contaminated water are minor and short-lived. However, there is the potential for more serious diseases, such as hepatitis A, giardia, cryptosporosis, campylobacter and salmonella..
TRANSPORT AND PARKING AT CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL
Parking &
Shuttle Update
The
CDHB and the Christchurch City Council Transport & Greenspace Team have
been working to try and find a solution to longer term parking for CDHB
staff and patients. Despite a number of options being discussed we are
still dealing with a loss of more than 800 parking spaces and trying to
find alternative sites is proving difficult.
The best solution continues to be parking behind the Horticultural Centre and the CDHB has provided minibuses to escort patients from this area during the day and for staff at night; security have access to these minibuses 24/7.
Staff are asked to walk whenever possible because patients and visitors that may find the walk to the hospital difficult will be given preference for the shuttle. The shuttle picks ups and drops off at the main hospital entrance.
The parking area behind the horticultural centre area is well lit and an area has been designated for staff working afternoon shifts to ensure they are within view of the security team when they return to their vehicles. There is also security available to escort people to and from the parking area. A white gazebo is located to the side of the parking area and staff, patients and visitors should wait here for escorts or the shuttle bus.
Armagh St
Gardens
This
car park is now open and there are no time restrictions. Access is from
Rolleston Ave at the Armagh St bridge. Staff and patients can use this
sealed parking area and access the hospital via the Botanical Gardens.
There is no security in place, so recommend this area for day shift
parking.
Staff and patient shuttles from Hillmorton and Burwood
Shuttles are continuing to operate from Hillmorton Hospital hours have been extended to try and accommodate some more shifts. Drop off and pick up is from the lower ground floor entrance of Christchurch Women’s Hospital.The first shuttle will now leave Hillmorton at 0715 and they will continue to run throughout the day at the following times:
Hillmorton departure on the hour from 7.15am to 4.15pm and on the hour from Christchurch Hospital from 7.45pm to 4.45pm and again at 5.15pm.
Volunteer
Drivers needed for the Hillmorton to Christchurch Shuttle
CDHB
cannot express its gratitude enough to this team of people who have made
a regular commitment to help out. However, with departments returning to
normal and winter weather settling in, we urgently require some more
volunteers. If you could spare a day, a morning or an afternoon to help
drive patients and staff between the hospitals please contact
Rachel.cadle@cdhb.govt.nz.
The Burwood to Christchurch Shuttle departs at 6.00am, 7.00am, 8.15am and 2pm. The Christchurch to Burwood Shuttle departs at 3.30pm, 4.35pm, 5.45pm, and 11.10pm
Burwood departures leave from beside Beacon House at entrance B2. Christchurch departures leave from the traffic lights on Oxford Terrace below the emergency department.
The Princess Margaret Hospital – Christchurch Hospital Shuttle is running as per usual
Alternative
Transport Options:
A
great number of staff have also reverted to cycling to work and using
the buses, we have been looking for more places to locate bike racks and
actively encourage those that can to consider an alternative way of
getting to work.
Parking on Verges and Yellow Lines:
Since the February 22 earthquake, the council have been lenient about staff, patients or visitors to Christchurch Hospital using the park verges and yellow lines outside the hospital for parking but ask people to stop parking in these areas.
Council has indicated it will tow cars that are interrupting traffic flow, cycle ways or pedestrian access to an alternative nearby area. There are no fines for towing but it is an inconvenience to have to find your vehicle which may have been relocated back to the Horticultural centre or other safe parking area.
The DHB is continuing to review parking with the City Council and will update staff and patients as we get further information.
AGED CARE RESIDENTS
Letters have been sent to residents and families about the relocations
of rest home residents evacuated from Christchurch rest homes following
the quake.
Assistance is available to help families keep in touch with their relocated family members and a process is in place to determine priority of residents wanting to Canterbury.
At the time of the quake some families opted to take their relative home to live with them and DHB will continue to work with these families to provide additional care and support to enable this situation to continue longer term.
Anyone with queries about care of vulnerable older people should call 03 337 8937 or email: eocvp1@cdhb.govt.nz
DRINKING WATER
The
boil water notice has been lifted, however, the testing programme has
not included private wells and bores, so we advise people accessing
drinking water from these sources to organise on-going private testing.
Residents should contact the Council if their reticulated water supply is not working on 941 8999.
People should still try to conserve water because Christchurch’s water supply and waste water infrastructure remains delicate.
If you’re returning to your home or business for the first time since the quake
Residents returning to their properties for the first time since the boil water notice has been lifted, and new tenants or property owners, should turn on all the taps on their property and let them run for a minimum of five minutes. If after five minutes the water is still discoloured they should continue to run it until it is clear.
Business owners or managers returning to their premises should also run taps for five minutes. Business owners are also advised to organise a registered plumber to check their water systems prior to switching water on at the street. Leaks in the water pipe work on their site or in their building could cause further damage to the property.
Chlorination of Christchurch water supply.
It is expected that the water supply will continue to be chlorinated for between three and six months while permanent infrastructure repairs take place. The Council will continue a programme of increased sampling to ensure that water remains safe to drink. If people don’t like the taste of chlorine then they should fill a jug with water and store it in the fridge for 30 minutes before drinking. This will lessen the taste/odour.
CANTERBURY DHB
BUILDINGS
All
hospital buildings continue to be 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
displayed on these buildings.
BLOOD TESTS
Canterbury Health Laboratories will be open over the weekend from 8am to
11am on Saturday at their Hagley Ave, Tuam Street building, across the
road from Christchurch Hospital. There is parking on site and any blood
test forms will be accepted.
For more details of where you can go to have a blood test or other tests, check www.bloodtest.co.nz
SHORT SHOWERS SHOW
YOU CARE – TAKE CARE WITH WATER USE
Where you have water available at home, regardless of what part of
Christchurch you live in, 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 it mellow; if it’s brown flush it down’.
Don’t waste water washing the car!
IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGES
GENERAL PRACTICES AND PHARMACIES
Most general practice teams and pharmacies in Canterbury
are now open. If you need to see a doctor, phone your own GP first and
you will be put through to someone who can help.
Pharmacies
If you want to collect several medicines at once it’s helpful if you can drop your prescription off and give the pharmacy a day to get them ready for you.
Even if you think your pharmacy is closed, please ring the usual pharmacy telephone number. Your call will either be redirected or the recorded message will tell you where you can collect your medicines from.
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 tired and a multitude of 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.
Recovery Assistance
Centres
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.
These sites are open:
Wainoni Aranui Recreation Centre
Weekdays: 9.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday: 9.00 am to 12.00pm (noon)
Sunday: Closed
Recovery Information Kiosks
Recovery Information Kiosks have opened throughout Christchurch. The
kiosks are places within communities, where people can get information
on the help available.
The kiosks are unmanned and are located at:
For more information go to http://www.msd.govt.nz/emergency/recovery-assistance-centres.html#DeltaCommunitySupportTrust7
Helplines
· ACC – People wanting to know what their entitlements are 0800 101 996
MEDIA ACCESS
Media are not to access Canterbury DHB hospitals or staff without permission.
All media queries must be directed to the Canterbury DHB Communications Team. Please phone (03) 337 7390, or 027 502 7523 / 027 531 4796.