BoP lends hand

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

HELICOPTERS and health providers from Bay of Plenty have been called on to maintain health services on the flood-ravaged East Coast.

Speaking at this week's health board meeting, Hauora Tairawhiti district health board chief executive Jim Green said there had been many health-related helicopter transfers of patients.

Because water was unavailable at Te Puia Springs for several days, dialysis patients were among those flown to Gisborne. Other emergency services had also used helicopters to get people out.

People living north of Te Puia were travelling by road to Whakatane for their health to be treated.

There had also been problems in the Tiniroto area and medication had been hoisted across the partially washed-out bridge at Tokomaru Bay.

Mr Green told board members he had attended several civil defence emergency-related briefings, including with Mayor Rehette Stoltz.

It was excellent to have the support of Bay of Plenty colleagues, Mr Green said, and the DHB was working closely with emergency services to keep access lines open.