ED plea to stay away

People have been asked to stay away from Dunedin Hospital's emergency department unless absolutely necessary as South Island hospitals prepare for the possibility of taking in earthquake victims.

The Southern District Health Board also postponed elective surgery yesterday afternoon, and let people know surgery planned for today was postponed.

Patients who could be discharged safely were sent home yesterday.

Communications spokeswoman Cherie Wells said yesterday afternoon acute surgery was continuing at this stage.

Those requiring medical attention should visit their family doctor, in the first instance, rather than going straight to the hospital, she said.

"Keep away from the emergency department. It is for emergencies only."

Southland Hospital in Invercargill had also cancelled elective surgery and was on stand-by to receive casualties.

Oamaru Hospital had offered a doctor experienced in emergency department work, and nurses to help treat quake victims, hospital manager Robert Gonzales said.

One Oamaru patient in Christchurch Hospital was being returned and Oamaru Hospital had up to 10 beds available for certain types of patients, he said.

St John in Oamaru would also send equipment, personnel and ambulances it could spare as required.

In Auckland, City and Starship hospitals had made 88 ward beds available for victims, Auckland District Health Board incident controller Margaret Dotchin said yesterday.

Within three hours of being asked to take critically injured patients, a further 15 beds could be provided in the intensive care unit, Ms Dotchin said.

The Auckland board was also able to send three senior medical officers to Christchurch to help if required.

The New Zealand Blood Service says it has enough blood stocks available to help victims.

The service said it did not need any more blood donors at this stage, despite some media reports.

However, it was monitoring the situation closely and would provide an update if the situation changed.

 

 

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