Community asked to delay visits to Narrabri Hospital after major accident today
28 August 2009 - 2pm
Hunter New England Health is asking anyone in Narrabri who may be considering seeking non-urgent medical assistance at Narrabri Hospital today to delay their visit while hospital staff treat patients seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident.
“Many of the hospital staff are involved in treating those injured in this accident, so we ask that people delay any non-urgent visit to Narrabri Hospital this afternoon,” Hunter New England Health Incident Controller Mr Chris Kewley said.
The hospital received six patients from the accident and unfortunately one of those people has subsequently passed away at the hospital.
The other patients include:
- 64 year old male patient in a critical condition with major fractures. This patient is being stabilised for transfer via rescue helicopter to Tamworth Hospital.
- 43 year old male patient in a critical condition with chest, rib and neck injuries. This patient is being stabilised for transfer via fixed wing aircraft to Tamworth Hospital.
- 66 year old male patient in a serious condition with neck injuries. This patient is being stabilised for transfer via road ambulance to Tamworth Hospital.
- 47 year old male patient in a stable condition.
- 47 year old female patient in a stable condition.
“Medical and nursing staff are working to stabilise the two critically injured patients for transfer to Tamworth Hospital,” Mr Kewley said.
“We have deployed a team from Moree Hospital consisting of two doctors and two nurses to assist with the effort. Three nurses with emergency experience and skills from Boggabri have also been sent to Narrabri,” he said.
“In addition, two doctors from Tamworth Hospital’s Retrieval Team have arrived in Narrabri and the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit at Tamworth Hospital are on standby to receive the critically ill patients,” Mr Kewley said.
“We have also alerted John Hunter Hospital Emergency Department, Trauma Team and Intensive Care Unit in Newcastle in case they are required.”
Contact: Shannon Ramadge
Phone: (02) 6767 7136