Sighs of relief at hospital

Emergency staff at Wairarapa Hospital are breathing easy after a quiet holiday period - at least as far as emergencies are concerned.

Charge nurse Conrad McCaffrey said staff were pleased with a holiday period without many major incidents of an urgent nature.

While the emergency department had been busy at times this was normal for summertime and many presentations had been non-urgent.

"There has been nothing more than we would normally have for summer," Mr McCaffrey said.

"We were just talking about it this morning [and] we're pleased we haven't had much.

"The roads have been reasonably safe."

The department had been prepared in case of casualties at the 7000-strong La De Da music festival in Martinborough over New Year but Mr McCaffrey said: "We didn't receive anything much from there.

"They had set up some medical facilities there to deal with things of a minor nature."

However, Mr McCaffrey said people needed to remember that the hospital emergency department was for emergencies only and not for medical care that could come from a family doctor.

"I know that the GP services have been busy. We want to reiterate that the GPs are the first port of call."

Mr McCaffrey said many of those coming to the hospital had been visitors from outside Wairarapa but, even then, "often it's general practice care they are seeking".