Officials scale back medical commitments

All non-essential surgical and medical procedures booked in Christchurch for tomorrow have been cancelled as a result of disruption to staff and damage in the region following Saturday's 7.1 earthquake.

Urgent surgery will go ahead, including caesarean sections and inductions of labour at Christchurch Women's Hospital.

All planned admissions for Christchurch, Christchurch Women's and Burwood Hospitals have been cancelled, and affected patients were being contacted, Canterbury District Health Board chief executive David Meates said.

Outpatient services will continue and the board would review the situation on Monday morning, he said.

Meanwhile, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners says children should be closely supervised over coming weeks, to watch for signs of trauma from the earthquake.

Deputy president Tony Townsend said already vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly, may suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and should talk to their GPs.

"It's normal for people to feel anxious after a major event like this, and most people will recover."

Trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy was the most effective treatment, and health agencies needed to ensure properly trained professionals were available to help, he said. But with only a small percentage of mental health workers trained in the specialist therapy, it was likely few GPs would have it.

"The events of this weekend highlight the need to address this issue in light of New Zealand's high likelihood of having a natural disaster in which many people could be injured."

Psychogists and specialists in disaster trauma from Massey's School of Psychology are offering online tips to help people deal with the psychological aftermath of the earthquake.

Director of the joint Centre for Disaster Research, Dr David Johnston, said many people may find themselves worried, anxious "or just uncertain about their experiences and futures" after this weekend.

Most people will cope, with the help of their social networks, but others would need more help, he said.

- NZPA