49789 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

49789 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: When Buller hospital is "open" what management, if any, can be initiated on site for patients with head trauma?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that the most important initial management for most head trauma is ensuring adequate blood pressure and oxygenation. These actions are known to Health New Zealand's rural teams. I am further advised that the diagnosis, and therefore treatment, of intra cerebral bleeds is not possible in Buller as there is no onsite CT scanner or access to acute surgery. There are rare situations in rural settings where neurosurgical teams advise acute decompression on the basis of trauma and clinical signs; however, this situation has not arisen in the last 20 years and would depend on discussions with specialty teams.