Christchurch Hospital is the largest tertiary, teaching and research hospital in the South Island and provides a full range of emergency, acute, elective and outpatient services. Doctors and specialists from here also travel to major centres in the South Island providing specialist clinics and operations. Telemedicine facilities link the hospital with other sites throughout New Zealand. This means patients dont always need to leave their hometown to receive treatment.
The Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department (ED) is the sole emergency medical facility in Christchurch, and acts as the acute access point for all tertiary care in the Canterbury region. The ED receives in excess of 65,000 attendances yearly, of which approximately 45% are subsequently admitted, to suggest a high acuity casemix.