The two cases are being treated as "confirmed current infections" by the Government. Results of a test due on Thursday will help determine the risk the cases pose to the community, Dr Ashley Bloomfield says.
Health Minister Andrew Little says a rebuilt Nelson Hospital won t include a change in location. An Indicative Business Case for the project was submitted in May, costed at about $713 million. However, on Friday Little said that rough costing of $713m included “all the bells and whistles, and absolutely everything” and had been sent back for revision. “They ve been told that that s a little bit beyond what was expected, so they’re having a look at that again,” Little said. “I think, what we re saying is: Let s look at actual need and bearing in mind too that our health system is a network so not every hospital has to have absolutely everything.
Whanganui s Te Awhina mental health facility often over capacity in 2020
22 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Whanganui s Te Awhina mental health facility recorded overcrowding and multiple violent incidents over the course of 2020. Photo / Bevan Conley
Whanganui s only acute mental health facility was operating over capacity at points across 2020 with some patients occasionally sleeping on mattresses on the floor. But staff say that is an unusual circumstance and Te Awhina still meets the needs of the Whanganui population.
The inpatient acute mental health service is the only one of its kind in the Whanganui District Health Board catchment and is a 12-bed unit.
There was “no current timeframe for the upgrade”. “Time frames will be determined once I have been provided with advice from officials regarding the prioritisation of District Health Board capital projects,” Little said. Smith said the redevelopment would be “the largest capital project ever undertaken in Nelson” and would take “years to plan and build, which is why the development needs to get underway as soon as possible”. He said it was “unacceptable” that Nelson “would not have a functional hospital in the event of a substantial earthquake, similar to what hit Christchurch . or Kaikōura”. In April 2016 the then Nelson Marlborough District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming estimated building would begin in “four to five years” but that time frame has almost lapsed and the third phase of a four-stage business case is yet to be presented. Costs then were estimated to be between $120m to $150m.
Mountain Scene
By PHILIP CHANDLER
Queenstown rural landowners are on high alert over arsenic poisoning in their drinking water.
Regional medical officer of health Susan Jack last month warned about 200 householders not to drink their bore water till it’s tested, as ‘‘elevated levels’’ of arsenic have been found in ‘‘two drinking water bores in your area’’.
While small amounts of arsenic might be fine, ‘‘swallowing larger amounts of arsenic may be harmful to health’’.
However, that warning, on behalf of Southern District Health Board, Otago Regional Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council, has come too late for some.
Lower Shotover resident Marie Wales says she, her family and neighbours have already been exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water.