Keep Emergency Department for emergencies

A combination of seasonal illness and wintry weather has led to the Emergency Department at Christchurch Hospital becoming extremely busy during the past week.

Christchurch District Health Board advises that the first place to seek help for non-urgent conditions is with your GP. There are a number of after hours health clinics that are able to provide medical assistance outside normal working hours.

We really need to keep the Emergency Department for emergencies only. See your doctor early if you or your children are sick. Don’t leave it until you or they are very ill.

Advice on medical conditions is available by calling Healthline on 0800 611 116. Contact information for GPs and after hours clinics can be found in the green coded section in the front of the White Pages and online at http://yellow.co.nz/whitepages/search/Christchurch/Medical+centres-1.html