Dunedin and Invercargill Hospitals will soon have plans completed for dealing with expected extra work resulting from the Rugby World Cup events.
Last month, Southern District Health Board chief medical officer (Otago) Richard Bunton told the hospitals' advisory committee the cup events had the potential to impact hugely on Dunedin Hospital, particularly with regard to radiology and operating theatres.
Southern District Health Board emergency planning officer Leanne Samuel yesterday said specific details of the contingency plan were not yet available.
Across the country, boards had been working with the rugby union, police, ambulance and all other relevant agencies on this issue.
In the case of Dunedin and Invercargill, it was clear the recent announcement of extra games would increase the impact, but rather than developing a new plan for each occasion, it would be a matter of using the same plan extra times.
The number of people needing medical care would be "very much contingent on the level of security around access to alcohol", she said.
It was possible that measures needed might include an increase in emergency department staffing at the time of the games, but details of this, including the cost and other possible actions, would not be confirmed until plans were completed in about a month's time.
