PLIGHT OF OLD PEOPLE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25891, 25 August 1949, Page 4

PLIGHT OF OLD PEOPLE

DOMESTIC HELP NOT AVAILABLE

HOSPITAL BOARD’S DISCUSSION

The plight of aged persons living alone in Christchurch was discussed by the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday after a report from Miss M. Corkill, matron of the Nurse Maude Association, had drawn attention to the number of old people, either living alone or married couples who have had illnesses aggravated by being unable to get help in their homes. If some solution to the problem could be found many hospital beds would be available to more acutely ill patients, the report added. Jubilee Home was full an 4 there was a waiting list, said Mrs T. Green, chairman of the board’s benevolent committee. She said that the proolem would be eased if the part of Burwood Hospital which was formerly used for old persons was again used for that purpose. She did not think there was a great demand for maternity beds at Burwood.

When Mrs J. N. Clarke suggested that some of the elderly patients in hospitals could be transferred to country hospitals which were not fully occupied, Mrs Green said that most of the country hospitals were mialernity hospitals. Another objection to Mrs Clarke’s suggestion was made by Mrs W. S. Bean, who said that the hospitals were too far out of town, and that friends and relatives would not be able to visit the patients. “You would not think that in these days of social security there would be so many pitiful cases, but there are. and we must try to help them,” s,aid Mr H. Saundercock. The board realised that there was a need to help old people who could not get domestic help during illnesses, said the chairman (Mr V. C. Lawn). He thought that the problem would be solved when the Burwood maternity ward closed, and notice had already been given that maternity bookings would not be accepted after April of next year.