Quake risk closes Akaroa's cottage hospital

5:52 pm on 12 December 2011

Canterbury District Health Board says Akaroa Hospital has been closed because it is an earthquake risk.

The seven-bed rural hospital is the latest in a series of public buildings that have been shut down following engineering assessments, including part of Ashburton Hospital on 7 December.

The DHB's acting chief executive, Mary Gordon, says it took urgent action to close the hospital, advising staff on Monday afternoon of the engineer's findings.

She says bracing is being put in place to allow staff to move equipment and files out.

Ms Gordon says further, invasive testing on the buildings will be done.

She says the health board is working to relocate services in the interim.