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.
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.