DHB head invokes Katrina to defend evacuating elderly

A man is carried on to the Royal New Zealand Air Force plane which will fly to Wellington from Christchurch for safer care for the elderly. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury DHB chief executive David Meates has invoked memories of Hurricane Katrina to defend evacuating hundreds of elderly out of Christchurch in the wake of last week's earthquake.

Many frail elderly were not moved out of unsafe facilities in the aftermath of the devastating hurricane that hit New Orleans in 2005.

Many died, while others endured horrific sanitary conditions while waiting for evacuation.

Mr Meates said that memory was in his mind when he decided to evacuate more than 300 residents of rest homes around Christchurch.

Staff were taking care of elderly in damaged buildings and high-pressure conditions, he said.

"I want to assure everyone that the decision to move residents was not made lightly. I know staff are feeling very upset about the way they have had to operate, without the luxury of time to work with families as they usually would.

"They know just how fragile many of the resthome residents are, as they care for them day in and day out. In many cases, they have been working in facilities where it was just not possible to keep residents safe. We can not and will not allow vulnerable people to stay in situations of avoidable risk."

The 300 evacuated residents have been transferred to other cities from Invercargill to Auckland, or to undamaged facilities within Christchurch.

Mr Meates said not all the evacuees' families have been consulted about the move due to the pressing need to get people to safe conditions quickly.

He reassured families their loved ones are receiving high quality care.

"I acknowledge this has been very difficult for families. This is not what we would ever do in ideal circumstances, but these circumstances are far from ideal. This has been a hard call to make, but one of many hard calls that will be needed as we deal with the aftermath of this disaster."

Mr Meates' comments come after a claim an elderly woman was to be evacuated to Nelson against her family's will.

Lorraine Dunn, 89, was among about 200 resthome residents evacuated from earthquake-shattered Nazareth House last week to Princess Margaret Hospital in Christchurch.

When family members learned she might be moved out of town, they urged doctors to find an alternative and left several phone numbers where they could be reached if she was to go.

But when two of Mrs Dunn's granddaughters called at Princess Margaret Hospital on Friday, they found her in a wheelchair with all her belongings and medication packed and wearing a label - "Nelson".

Son Peter Dunn refused to allow his mother to join a waiting bus and took her home.

A Canterbury District Health Board spokeswoman said she couldn't comment on individual cases. "Due to the urgency of relocating, we were unable to follow normal procedures of working with families."

Family looking to get more information on relatives they believe have been moved can phone 03 337 8937 for information.

Canterbury DHB has also established a 24-hour assessment centre for frail elderly at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Elderly that need health or disability assistance can contact Older Persons Health on 03 337 7765.