SNOW & EARTHQUAKE UPDATE 16 AUGUST 2011 - CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD

CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL & CHRISTCHURCH WOMENS HOSPITAL

OUTPATIENT CLINICS

Due to tomorrow’s weather forecast and likely driving conditions, most outpatient clinics are cancelled tomorrow at Christchurch and Christchurch Women’s Hospitals.

People whose appointments have been cancelled will be rebooked to the next available time.

If people have any questions they should contact the hospital number on their appointment card or letter.

SURGERY

Acute (emergency) and all non-deferrable urgent surgery (such as cancer surgery) will go ahead tomorrow – all other surgery has been postponed and those affected have been contacted.

BURWOOD HOSPITAL & ASHBURTON HOSPITAL

All surgery and outpatient clinic appointments at Burwood and Ashburton Hospitals planned for tomorrow have been cancelled.

ST GEORGES & SOUTHERN CROSS PRIVATE HOSPITALS

People booked to have surgery at St Georges or Southern Cross Hospitals should phone the hospital before leaving home to confirm whether their surgery is able to go ahead.

HILLMORTON

Mental Health outpatient clinics scheduled tomorrow at Hillmorton have been cancelled.

MEALS ON WHEELS

Canterbury DHB is working with Red Cross and the four wheel drive club to plan the delivery of Meals on Wheels tomorrow.

We expect that meals will be delivered as usual tomorrow, however, our ability to achieve this will depend on the severity of the snowfall overnight and tomorrow morning.

PRIMARY CARE – GPs and Pharmacies

If you have a doctor’s appointment with your GP, phone to check they’re open before leaving home. If they’re closed your call will be answered 24/7 by a registered nurse who will be able to advise you on what to do.

If your GP practice isn’t open you may be directed to another General Practice that is close to where you live or one of three after-hours clinics in Christchurch. (These are the 24-hour medical centre in Bealey Avenue; the Riccarton clinic in Riccarton Road and Moorhouse Medical off Moorhouse Road).

If you need to get a prescription filled or pick up essential medications, phone the pharmacy beforehand. If your usual pharmacy isn’t open they will be able to advise you on what to do.

HOME SUPPORT CARE AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Any former Ali’s Home Health clients who haven’t been contacted by a new provider of their home support or home health needs should phone (03) 364 4134.

Aged Residential Care Providers have all been contacted by CDHB and are managing well.

CANTERBURY HEALTH SYSTEM STAFF

Staff and the public are advised to take care when making their way to work, or to the hospital or health centres. Getting around the city and rural areas is difficult for many people and if staff have problems getting to work they should let their manager know as soon as possible.

LABORATORY SERVICES

Laboratory services will operate as usual tomorrow. Collection centres for Canterbury Health Laboratories and Medlab South are expected to be open as usual. People should communicate with the laboratory services through the normal channels.