COMMUNICATIONS

Update On MRT Strike

Christchurch Hospital’s Emergency Department has been extremely busy in the last two days.

There was an expected rise in attendances during Cup Day yesterday and an increase in the number of people presenting with alcohol related problems last night but Emergency Department staff say they have also been seeing a large number of people for unrelated reasons.

Messages asking people to call their GP or an after hours clinics, for advice on where to seek medical attention for minor injuries, is believed to have had some impact on numbers but there are still people presenting at the Emergency Department who could have been treated in the community, said Jock Muir, who is heading the CDHB’s contingency planning for the strike.

People with major injuries are of course advised to seek immediate help from Emergency Services.

Other CDHB Hospitals have been busy but coping in the last 24 hours. There have been no major incidents at CDHB sites and a number of life preserving requests have been made of the Union.

The strike will continue until Monday 20 November (except Friday 17 November) unless negotiations between the APEX Union and seven DHBs are successful before this time.

ENDS