ED Requests Non-Urgent Cases To See Their Gp First

Tuesday, 7 September 2004, 9:57 am
Press Release: Canterbury DHB

ED Requests Non-Urgent Cases To See Their Gp First

Christchurch hospital’s Emergency Department has made another plea for non-urgent cases to see their GP first before coming to hospital.

The CDHB’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Nigel Millar said the weekend had been ‘absolutely full’ and it was packed again by 10am today.

This is the second request in the last month from the Emergency Department.

The main reason for the overload, said Dr Millar, was both community flu and other ailments, and staff sickness.

‘We are making an all out effort to ask the public to see their GP first rather than come straight to hospital unless the situation is urgent,’ Dr Millar said.

Dr Millar said non-urgent patients who came to the Emergency Department would have a long wait. It was better for them to see their doctor or go to the nearest 24 hour emergency service first.

© Scoop Media

Canterbury DHB

CDHB

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.

We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.

At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.

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