Lyndhurst To Be Closed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30738, 30 April 1965, Page 12

Lyndhurst To Be Closed

Lyndhurst Maternity Hospital is to be closed on May 31. Rising costs, particularly the recent increases in nurses’ salaries, have brought this about.

Dr. L. H. Cordery, chairman of the board, said yesterday that he deeply regretted this action which had been forced by the failure of the Government adequately to cover the increased costs. “The Minister of Health (Mr

McKay) recently announced an increase of 5s a day in the Social Security hospital benefit for maternity patients in private hospitals. The estimated cost of the increases in nurses’ salaries is approximately fl a day.” “Arrangements have been made with St. George’s, Calvary, and Bethany Hospitals to transfer booking of oatients for Lyndhurst after May 31. Patients should communicate with their doctors to secure new bookings,” Dr. Cordery said. “Lyndhurst Hospital is the largest non-church private maternity hospital in New Zealand and has 23 beds. To replace these beds would cost the Government in the vicinity of £250,000,” he said. The first baby was born at Lyndhurst in 1929 and the present matron, Sister Goldie, has been a nurse on the staff since then. More than 17,000 babies have been born in the hospital. In 1956 Miss Jean Trotter, the former matron, retired and disposed of the hospital. At this time the Health Department. fearing that it might close, strongly urged the doctors of Christchurch to take it over as there was a serious shortage of obstetric beds.

Dr. Cordery said that during the first year the directors had made numerous approaches to the Minister of Health acquainting him with the serious position which was developing. The Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister had also been approached but the Government assistance had been inadequate. “It seems ridiculous to allow the loss of 23 beds which can be ill-afforded in this rapidly growing area,” Dr. Cordery said.