NEW HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29138, 25 February 1960, Page 15

NEW HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT

Social Services Reorganised

A social services department will be created at the Christchurch Hospital, the North Canterbury Hospital Board decided yesterday. It will consist of two sections -medico-social and social welfare. The former will comprise the present medico-social department and the latter the present benevolent office. The benevolent office will be renamed the social welfare office and the benevolent officer will become the social welfare officer. The medico-social section will come under the direct control of the medical superintendent-in-chief and the social welfare officer under the secretary. The duties of each section will remain substantially as at present except for the procedure in admitting persons into the old people’s homes. Applications for admission to the hospital side of old people's homes will be handled by the medico-social workers and for the home side by the social welfare officer.

Names of persons recommended for admission will be placed on a waiting list which will be kept in two sections, one for the hospital side and one for the home side. As vacancies occur admissions will be made from the waiting list by the medical superintendent-in-chief. The outdoor relief functions of the social welfare officer will continue as in the past. Cases may be referred by the social welfare officer to the secretary who in his discretion will refer them to the finance committee or When necessary to the chairman of the committee or his deputy.