Christchurch earthquake: Rest home residents to be moved

About 80 elderly people in residential care centres homes have been moved out of Christchurch with another 200 likely follow, the Canterbury District Health Board says.

"One of our biggest issues at the moment is our aged residential care sector," CDHB chief executive David Meates said today.

He said there were a number of aged residential care centres without water, sewerage and power facilities. Many rest home residents had been taken home with family and friends.

The elderly would be sent to the South Island, though some could be sent to the North Island, he said.

Patients from Christchurch Hospitals have also been moved out of the region to other areas, to free up beds for quake victims.

- NZPA