Emergency services mobilise for party

Dozens of extra emergency services staff are on standby in Dunedin for today's Hyde St keg party.

Additional clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, senior doctors, clerical staff, X-ray technicians, orderlies and security have been required for an expected increase in visits to Dunedin Hospital's emergency department (ED).

Southern District Health Board medical directorate general manager Sharon Mason said extra staff were required because of the influx of young people who had presented at ED after previous keg parties.

''We are fortunate that our staff are so dedicated to the service and patients, and have either undertaken to perform additional shifts or made themselves available to be called in.

''While we recognise that young people are going to be drinking, we would ask that you look after each other and please drink in a safe way.''

The board was just one of several agencies involved in planning meetings for the Hyde St keg party, with the multi-agency operation run from the Fire Service's command unit.

Fire Service East Otago assistant area commander Craig Geddes said the weekend would be ''business as usual'' for Dunedin firefighters, except for the command unit playing host to the co-ordination role.

St John southern region operations manager Doug Third said a temporary compound, including a full casualty clearance point, would be operating near Hyde St. Thirty-five St John staff and volunteers would be involved this year, compared with eight last year when they had been ''overrun''.

''It was just sheer numbers. We treated 86 people in just six hours last year.''

Dunedin Clutha Area Commander Inspector Greg Sparrow said police did not support the Hyde St party, but ''we are aware of the need to work with stakeholders to make the event as safe as possible''. The onus was on those holding the party to make the event as safe as possible for those attending, Insp Sparrow said.

''The Hyde St tenants and their landlords own this event and ...determine the way it is managed.'

Police had plans in place for the annual keg party, which was no different from any other large event, he said.

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

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