Dunedin Promised Next Cardiac Unit

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 12

Dunedin Promised Next Cardiac Unit

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, October 29. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) has refused the Otago Hospital Board’s request for a judicial inquiry into the siting of the second cardiac unit. But in his letter received by the board today Mr Holyoake said the Government had already decided that a third cardiac unit should be sited at Dunedin.

The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) proposed to ask the Hospitals Advisory Council to consider when such a unit should be established, said Mr Holyoake.

'The council will also be asked to report on the extent to which such a unit would be of advantage to the Otago University Medical School and what assistance the medical school could be to the board in the functioning of the unit"

Mr Holyoake gave an assurance that he would ask Mr McKay to “expedite his

request to the Hospitals Advisory Council” and that its recommendations would be given the “fullest and most careful consideration by the Government.”

“We hope your board will accept the suggestion made by the Cardiac Surgery Committee to continue to develop its cardiological department in preparation for the eventual establishment of a third cardiac unit, and assure you that the Government will give every possible assistance to your board in developing its cardiological services.” Mr Holyoake said the Government had given careful consideration to the board’s representations concerning a judicial inquiry. “ . . . But in view of the many technical factors which must be taken into account when deciding on the siting of a specialist unit, it is not felt that this course should be followed,” he said. Mr J. D Browm moved that the board thank Mr Holyoake for his assurance that the third cardiac unit would be sited in Dunedin and that the board "looks forward to that unit being set up at an early date, realising, as it does, the vital importance of such a unit to the medical school." This was carried unanimously.