The Star: April 18, 2019

The Star Thursday April 18 2019
6
NEWS
news online at www.star.kiwi
Surgeons spent 8800 minutes
• By Sophie Cornish
SIX DAYS of continuous surgery.
That’s how long it would take
if you added up the more than
8800min spent in surgery at
Christchurch Hospital, for the
victims of the March 15 terror
attack.
Figures released this week by
the Canterbury District Health
Board show
the extensive
lengths the
hospital was
pushed to when
dealing with the
event.
Never before
David Meates
has a hospital
in New Zealand
been required
to manage 48 patients with gunshot
wounds.
Even internationally, a trauma
event of this size would usually
be spread across a number of
healthcare centres, CDHB chief
executive David Meates said.
Every patient who was brought
into the emergency department
at the hospital following the attack
survived, a feat Mr Meates
described as “really remarkable.”
The ED was open again to
the general public by 6pm that
evening – something that just
“doesn’t happen” Mr Meates
said.
HARD WORK: Canterbury District Health Board chief
executive David Meates says the Christchurch Hospital
response to the March 15 terror attack was “remarkable” and
released figures this week about the incident.
“It is just incredibly extraordinary,”
he said.
Mr Meates said staff are feeling
“immensely proud” of what they
achieved.
“The enormity of what they
have done hasn’t quite sunk in
. . . it is still a long journey ahead.
The focus will be on the wellness
of those in the health system,
tomorrow, next week and the
years to come.”
THE RESPONSE
•During and following
the immediate response,
planned surgery was
deferred to enable timely
management of acute
work.
•Theatres ran
continuously. Surgeons
of almost all specialities,
anaesthetists and theatre
staff were called in and
worked the Friday night,
Saturday and Sunday.
•Twelve acute theatres
operated all Friday night
and throughout Saturday
with seven acute theatres
operating on Sunday.
•As of April 1, there were
75 theatre events. Patients
from the mosque attacks
have spent more than
8800min in theatre. This
is equivalent to more than
six continuous days.
•Consumables and
clinical supplies were
utilised at two to three
times the normal rate.
•The intensive care unit
did not have sufficient
capacity to take all of
the patients needing its
care. Some patients were
moved to other wards
and additional staff were
allocated to support.
EASTER
TREAT
ANZAC DAY
2019
Dawn Service Christchurch
25
%
OFF
STOREWIDE
Thurs 18 th t o
Tues 23 rd April
T&C’s apply
Dawn Service
6.30am – Cranmer Square
Organised by the Canterbury branch of the
Malaya Veterans Association in conjunction
with the Christchurch branch of the Royal
New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association
(RSA) and Christchurch City Council. Mayor
Lianne Dalziel will lay a wreath on behalf of the
citizens of Christchurch.
The parade starts at 6.15am,
with the service to follow.
Please avoid bringing a bag if possible to reduce
delays getting into the event area.
Citizens’ Service
10am – Transitional Cathedral,
Latimer Square
Organised by Christchurch City Council in
conjunction with Christchurch Cathedral and
the RSA. It will be attended by representatives
of the Defence Force, Consular Corps and
various Christchurch youth groups.
Road closures to Cranmer Square will apply from 4.30am
Road closed to all vehicles. Pedestrian access only.
Westfield 129 Riccarton Rd
Riccarton | (03) 343 5332
The Hub 418 Main South Rd
Hornby | (03) 595 5088
Northlands 55 Main North Rd
Papanui | (03) 666 1269
In Flanders fields the poppies blow.
Between the crosses row on row…
Lt.Col.J.McCrae (1872-1918)