Plea For Hospital

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 3

Plea For Hospital

(Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, June 3. The Health Department should be “prodded along” to provide the accommodation needed at the Christchurch Public Hospital, Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Opp., Christchurch Central) said in Parliament today. “We have recently had a controversy in Christchurch over admissions to hospital," Mr Macfarlane said in his address-in-reply speech.

“The Department of Health decided some years ago that the Princess Margaret Hospital should not be extended,

but that new buildings should be erected for the public hospital. “It is more than 12 months since the Christchurch City Council, which controls the domain, gave its consent to an extension of the public hospital into the domain area. I do not know whether that is still in the planning stage, but the situation is becoming urgent. “In Christchurch, as in other parts of New Zealand, we have such a large waiting list—and it is growing all the time—that only urgent cases can be admitted. “In common with other parts of New Zealand Christchurch has seen a large increase in the number of geriatric cases,” Mr Macfarlane said. “Accommodation is required for them.

“I utterly disagree with the attitude of the department in connexion with another matter. The department has a tendency to say that subsidies shall, be given only to those bodies which are under the auspices of religious denominations.

“Langford House, one of the most successful institutions of its kind in Christchurch, is

run under the auspices of the Aged Persons Welfare Council. The council had land left to it some years ago in the Hennessy estate, on which it is prepared to' build. “I am sure the Minister will agree that Langford House is a success. He will know that many people prefer to go into an institution run by an organisation such as the Aged Persons Welfare Council, which is a reputable body, with considerable influence in and around Christchurch. “I suggest that the Minister see if he can change his department's attitude toward this property in Lyttelton street which the council obtained from the Hennessy estate.”