PATIENTS MOVED TO BURWOOD

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23364, 25 June 1941, Page 10

PATIENTS MOVED TO BURWOOD

COMPLAIN? MADE TO BOARD LETTER RECEIVED FROM LODGE , The removal of three patients from the Christchurch Hospital to the Burwood Hospital was the subject of complaint and long'discussion at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday. A letter had been sent to the chairman (Mr L, B. Evans) by the secretary of the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge asking for reconsideration of the board’s decision in sending the men to Burwood. Other members of the board had also received representations. Mrs J. N. Clarke asked towards the end of the meeting that the chairman should read the letter from the lodge, ang asked why he had not already done so. ■ Mr Evans read the letter, which said that the patients concerned, three men, had been able to be visited regularly when they were in the Ctolstchurch Hospital and taken for outings. Now that they were transferred to Burwood these privileges were curtailed. ' Mr Evans also read an answer which had been sent to the letter. The answer set out that one patient had been in hospital since 1933, one smce 1936,. and the third since May. 1939. Ihe average day’s stay for patients at the Christchurch' Hospital was 19 days,. and' keeping chronic patients, there under the present conditions might hamper the efficient running of the hospital. The beds occupied by these ■ men would in the ordinary course be used by 63 patients in a year. The three men could be cared for just , as well at Burwood .as at the Christchurch Hospital With'urgent'Civilian; requirements to meet amf the necessity of preparing fo?" returning soldiers, it was not a question b£. the hoard; doing what. it would 'like/to do, but of ’doing what was’ best undeif thfe ‘circumstances. J Mrs'Clarke moved’that-the;men_be returned .to the Christchurph Hospital. She sald that there was no complaint against '-the management ut Burwood, but down there thelmen could not be seen by .relatives and ’taken; out. twice, a week as.before. One man had .an outlook • from his window on to me; ha'ck''of t a> ; -i(hßd l vand at one time he Md ttot evah Y, Once, when he another^patlent |, ponded

appreciated the board’s point of view, and that the lodge officials did also. By. 10 votes to nine, the meeting went into committee on the motion of Mr J. S. Barnett,' for further discussion, It -was reported later that the matter hadhecn referred back to tbe