kmarriner@nzdoctor.co.nz
Wednesday 23 February 2011, 4:56pm
Doctors attending an Australasian urology conference in Christchurch have been lending a helping hand in the aftermath of yesterday's earthquake.
Shortly after the quake, Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand president David Melouf offered the services of conference goers to assist with casualties on the street.
The conference was being held at the Christchurch Convention Centre with many delegates staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel less than 500m from the collapsed Pyne Gould Corp building.
Doctors from the conference rushed to help at the Pyne Gould building, as well as The Press building in Cathedral Square and the triage centre in Hagley Park.
Tauranga doctor caught unawares
Tauranga urologist Peter Gilling worked "until there was no more work to be done" according to the Bay of Plenty Times.
After being caught in the shower during the 6.3 magnitude quake Mr Gilling grabbed his clothes and cell phone and quickly evacuated his top floor hotel room, the Times reports.
He then attended to casualties around the hotel area and in Hagley Park.
Australians not expected to stay
A conference spokesperson says the 400 Australian delegates are expected to leave Christchurch as soon as they can.
Dr Melouf has received advice that the New Zealand systems are sufficient to deal with the bulk of the crisis.
Minor injuries have been reported among conference goers but there were no reports of serious casualties or missing persons.
No holiday for doctors at Christchurch conference
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