DHBs' readiness before quakes adequate: study

Emergency preparedness at district health boards before the Canterbury earthquakes was adequate to deal with a disaster, University of Otago research published yesterday shows.

Published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the study was based on interviews carried out with emergency planners at 16 district health boards in early 2010. Lead study author medical student Sultan Al-Shaqsi said the emergency planners highlighted several issues that concerned them though.

These were that clinicians were not interested in emergency planning; there was a need for backup if emergency communication systems failed; and insufficient recognition was given to the likely value of volunteers who might turn out after a disaster.

The researchers, who included Prof Robin Gauld of the department of preventive and social medicine, concluded that, despite these issues, New Zealand's public health system was prepared for a disaster before the quakes started in September 2010.

Several of the issues were earlier detailed in a review of the initial response to the February 2011 earthquake undertaken by Prof Mike Ardagh and colleagues at Otago University's Christchurch campus.

''For example, they identified that backup systems for lifeline services such as water, communication and electricity were significant challenges during the initial response,'' Mr Al-Shaqsi said.