Ebola patients in the South would be taken to Christchurch by ambulance or military aircraft in the unlikely event of an outbreak, a report to a Southern District Health Board meeting says.
The report, to be presented tomorrow by chief medical officer David Tulloch, says Christchurch has been designated the main treatment centre for Ebola in the South Island.
Leading the response in the South was medical officer of health Dr Keith Reid.
A technical advisory group and co-ordination group had been established.
If necessary, patients would be stabilised before their journey north in the negative pressure facility at Dunedin Hospital's emergency department.
''This approach will ensure optimum management of any case that presents, minimise the infection risk locally and prevent prolonged disruption of healthcare provision in Dunedin Hospital.''
Isopods [isolation pods] would be used to transport highly infectious cases by air, which required a military aircraft.
The arrangements for accessing these resources are being established and they will enable the approach of an early transfer of infectious patients from the Southern district to Canterbury for management, where clinically appropriate.
''It is, however, expected that road transport with St John would be the [main] method used,'' the report said.
