23 February 2011
Hawke's Bay Hospital helping Christchurch
Hawke’s Bay Hospital sent two retrieval teams to Christchurch overnight to pick up two existing critically ill intensive
care patients.
These patients were already in intensive care in Christchurch prior to the earthquake but were transferred to help
alleviate pressure at Christchurch Hospital.
Chief operating officer Warrick Frater said a list of volunteers, from the district health board, was being gathered
today and that list would be matched up with the skills Christchurch needed and staff deployed as required
Mr Frater said Hawke’s Bay Hospital was able to take more patients if necessary and was working closely with other
agencies to ensure all the help Christchurch needed at this time could be provided.
At this time all planned elective surgery would go ahead at Hawke’s Bay Hospital but would be reassessed if Christchurch
needed more bed space either in the wards or in ICU.
ENDS