More Beds Planned For Board’s Elderly Patients

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31045, 28 April 1966, Page 9

More Beds Planned For Board’s Elderly Patients

The North Canterbury Hospital Board wants to build accommodation at the Princess Margaret Hospital for 60 elderly patients, together with a medical assessment unit.

The board decided yesterday to “actively pursue” the erection of a 60-bed geriatric unit there instead of at Coronation Hospital, as previously proposed. It also asked its medical superintendent-in-chief (Dr. L. McH. Berry) to report on the possibility of an extra 60 beds to relieve or replace hospital accommodation for the elderly elsewhere. Closing Of Home

The early closing of the Teresa Green Home for the Aged and the transfer of patients and staff to Lyndhurst was approved in principle. “Why ‘in principle?’ ” asked Miss M. B. Howard. “Why not a definite date? I

went up there, and if a fire started it would roast all those people alive. “Blow this ‘principle.’ Get on with the job. “This concerns me a great deal. It’s a beautiful spot. We could offer it to the City Council for pensioners’ cottages,” she said. “It is very urgent and we don’t want to wait until something happens.” No Hold-up The chairman, Dr. L. C. L. Averill said he did not think the change-over would be held up at ail. Once the decision was made a survey of Lyndhurst would be made to see if the old people could be accommodated. Mr L. A. Bennett said he agreed that “in principle" was not quite the word. There was a lot of work to be done at Lyndhurst, and it would be given the greatest urgency by the planning group.