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Kia Kaha Pegasus

The College’s thoughts are with the people of the Christchurch, and the medical staff who are working hard to help them through these hard times. Vince Barry, CEO of Pegasus Health, advises that the primary care infrastructure has survived particularly well, in terms of buildings, IT function and staff. Canterbury general practice is up and running, however one inner city practice is closed, and only limited general practices services are available in Kaiapoi.

A small number of staff across the Canterbury primary care network have lost their homes, and support is being offered to those colleagues by Pegasus.The true impact on the wider infrastructure, such as sewage, will become clearer over the next 5-10 days, however, the psychological impact on people in the community is unable to be gauged. The most immediate issue is the potential contamination of water supplies, and a resultant increase in the numbers of gastroenteritis cases. Christchurch Hospital is functionally normally, although elective services have been pulled back as a precaution against the possibility of needing to meet higher demand for medical services.

Pegasus has asked the College to pass on their thanks to colleagues across general practice who have sent messages of support and offers of help. In coming weeks, as the impacts of the earthquake are better understood, this help may need to be called upon.