An announcement made by the Canterbury District Health Board has informed that people residing in Canterbury can receive free medical aid by stepping into the clinic of any GP. The offer has been made open to the members of public till Thursday.

It has further announced that patients cannot just walk in to the clinics and they will first have to check with their own GPs. However, if their doctor is not open they can call a nurse, who will direct them to the other nearest doctor available.

People facing difficulties in communication because of a lack of signal or if the lines are out have been recommended to visit the nearest after-hours centre. For those unaware of medical facilities in the area, the Pegasus 24-hrs Medical Centre in Bealey Avenue is open all the time. Apart from that, the Moorhouse Medical Centre and the Riccarton Clinic are operation 24/7.

According to the data released by the DHB, it will be relocating 100 people residing in care homes to new places on Wednesday. Surgeries scheduled to be held this week have been postponed to next Tuesday and none of the facilities will carry out chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions till next week.

Talking about the situation, the Chief Medical Officer, Canterbury DHB, Nigel Millar, said that residents were behaving in the most supportive manner. A majority of the people were staying away from the hospital emergency department in unnecessary cases.