September 9 2010

About 200 residents are being evacuated from quake-damaged rest homes in Christchurch, but there is little room in Ashburton.

 The Canterbury District Health Board has approached the majority of Mid Canterbury's rest homes and asked if they can take residents. Coldstream and Princes Court owner Vicki Green said she understood the health board was looking as far away as Invercargill for spare beds. "We have been approached by the DHB and we haven't got any beds," she said. There was currently a high demand in Mid Canterbury as elsewhere for rest home beds. Cameron Courts maanger Gerry Harvey said she had also been approached, but had just one spare bed vacant from Thursday until Monday, which would most likey not serve the needs of evacuated residents. Rosebank reported not having been approached, but had no spare beds anyway. Garth Bateup for Tuarangi said he believed there was only "one or two" beds free there, while Methven House has one unit free. Nurse manager Elisabeth Heybrook said yesterday she had been contacted by the DHB, and had confirmed availabilty of the unit and was waiting to hear back from them.