Emergency response plans

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For staff

Emergency response plans for staff

At times Waikato District Health Board staff have to manage emergency situations or crises. These can include:

  • acute clinical episodes, such as a cardiac arrest
  • fire
  • environmental hazards, such as a hazardous substance spill
  • breaches of security
  • bomb threats
  • utility failure
  • industrial action
  • an unexpected influx of acutely ill patients (such as a multi-casualty incident or public health emergency).

Depending on the event, this type of incident can have a major impact on one part of the hospital/s (leaving other areas unaffected), or it can affect the whole organisation.

  • The Waikato DHB emergency response flip chart should be displayed/readily available in every area of the DHB. It provides information on what to do in any situation.
  • The extension number to call in an emergency is 99777. This extension number works on landlines and Waikato DHB mobile phones.

Emergency response plans

Currently there are documented emergency response and recovery plans for each clinical and non-clinical service based at the Waiora Waikato Hospital campus, plus one over-arching Waiora Waikato Hospital campus plan. 

Each of these plans includes:

  • how the plan is activated
  • critical dependencies
  • critical equipment
  • key functions
  • an alternative location
  • duty cards for key people
  • resources and supplies required for relocation
  • appendices which should include contact staff list and key service contacts.

Waikato DHB Health Emergency Plan 

The Waikato DHB Health Emergency Plan 2022-25 [PDF, 6.4 MB] includes planning for essential primary, secondary, tertiary, mental health, disability support and public health services in the event of an emergency. This is part of our commitment to emergency management locally, regionally and nationally.

Responsibility for the co-ordination of healthcare resources in the Waikato rests with Waikato DHB. When an incident or event is likely to extend outside the Waikato DHB region, the Midland DHB group provides regional planning and an operational response. The Ministry of Health could also activate all or part of the National Health Emergency Plan.

Not finding what you want?

  • If you are looking for stakeholder/other provider information on emergency plans please go to the For health professionals section.
  • If you want personal advice about how to prepare and act in an emergency, please go to the Your health/Wellbeing in the Waikato section.
  • If you want information about your own department or service emergency response plan, please talk to your manager or contact emergency management manager Trev Ecclestone.