Health correspondent Karen Brown visited Christchurch Hospital a week after the disaster that resulted in patients being resuscitated by torchlight. She reviews the immediate impact of the earthquake on the region's health services, how they’re picking themselves up and what lies ahead.
Worries about the mental health impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes dominated a fiery meeting at Parliament today.
Karen Brown reports from Chch, where there seems to be no end in sight for the mental health problems caused by the earthquakes
Two Kaikoura residents have been airlifted to Christchurch for medical treatment following the earthquake. Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says health services are managing.
When the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes struck, the region was hit with disaster on an unprecedented scale and the health system was challenged like never before. The injured needed immediate treatment, buildings and equipment were badly damaged, and yet those working in health system rallied to keep it going. Emergency Medicine specialist Dr Mike Ardagh and independent science writer Dr Joanne Deely have written a book, Rising from the Rubble, which tells the stories of those who were part of the health system response, and a record of the long-term issues that have been caused by it.
Dr Sue Bagshaw, the head of a youth health clinic Christchurch, fears the high rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among children will skyrocket due to the earthquake.
The chief medical officer of health for the region, Dr Alistair Humphrey, says people carrying out repairs on their earthquake-stricken properties need to be wary of asbestos.
Those clearing up earthquake-damaged buildings in Canterbury are being warned to beware of asbestos.
A report commissioned by the Ministry of Health has found Canterbury residents are unlikely to suffer any health risks from asbestos exposure during the canterbury earthquake repairs. The Report is a review of Scientific Evidence of Non Occuptional Risks - and was convened by the Royal Society and the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor. Sir David Skegg, president of the Royal Society of New Zealand and Dr Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health.
The increase began after Christchurch's 2011 earthquakes, but the District Health Board is expecting to face even more challenges following effects of the Port Hills fires and last year's earthquake in Kaikoura.
Five years on from the Canterbury earthquakes, many children are still showing signs of stress. Our health correspondent Karen Brown says child health and education experts want children to get more help.
Alistair Hamilton is the Canterbury Medical Officer of Health.
The number of emergency psychiatric assessments in Christchurch has more than doubled since the earthquakes struck.
Christchurch architect Bob Burnett founded the Superhome movement after his children got sick "bouncing around substandard rentals" after the Christchurch earthquake.
David Meates is Chief Executive of the Canterbury District Health Board.
David Meates is the Chief Executive of the Canterbury District Health Board.
The Cowles Stadium welfare centre for Christchurch earthquake evacuees has closed for health reasons.
The immediate aftermath of the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake and its ongoing impact on residents' mental health is being described as a recovery of two halves. The latest wellbeing survey from the Canterbury District Health Board shows that one in five people, predominantly those living in the eastern suburbs, say they experience stress most or all of the time.
There's growing frustration over the government's work to match it's promise to tackle the country's suicide rates. A Mental Health Commission report describes frustration over the pace of change - and points to an urgent need for an overarching action plan. Mental health advocates are also criticising the lack of progress in helping people in Canterbury, with many still severely affected by ongoing trauma from earthquakes and the 2019 Mosque shootings. Eleisha Foon reports.
Medium-density fibreboard has been sitting at an old rubbish put in Wigram since the earthquakes and residents are worried it's harming their health.
Education advisors are warning that children could suffer mental health problems for years to come if schools botch their return to the classroom. They say the Christchurch earthquakes and Australian bushfires show teachers should resist the temptation to launch straight back into normal lessons after a major event. Principals are hoping to learn today when they will move into alert level two and how many of their students will be able to return to school. RNZ's education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.
Clinical psychologist Sarb Johal, formerly an adviser with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Civil Defence, on trauma and psychosocial support after Canterbury's earthquake.
Canterbury's health officials say an increase in binge drinking, not taking medicines, and domestic violence are signs of the ongoing effect of the region's earthquakes.
Mental health experts in Christchurch are warning the worst could be still to come for people suffering from anxiety, depression and stress related to the earthquakes.
Christchurch Health authorities say they will never put acutely unwell patients on top floors again after having to evacuate them after the 22nd of February earthquake.
The Canterbury District Health Board is to double the amount it spends on out-sourcing services to 20 million dollars a financial year following the Christchurch earthquakes.
Caroline Bell, consultant psychiatrist and the clinical head of the Anxiety Disorders Unit at the Canterbury District Health Board talks about the psychological fallout from the Christchurch quakes.
With Tom Love - A principal of consulting firm Sapere Research Group, who was commissioned by the Canterbury District Health Board, to examine the population impact of February's earthquake.
Health officials in Christchurch have today begun work on a recovery plan for how they will replace hundreds of beds lost in rest homes because of the recent earthquake.
The Canterbury District Health Board is facing a bill in excess of $70-million to repair earthquake damage to more than seven and a half thousand rooms in two of its hospitals.