Cheviot Hospital “Will Not Close”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 19

Cheviot Hospital “Will Not Close”

The Cheviot I iospital would remain open, and there was no question of closing it in the foreseeable future, the chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr. L. C. L. Averill) said at yesterday’s meeting of the board.

The provincial 1 executive of North Canterbury Federated Farmers had suggested that in view of the inadequate hospital • facilities in North Canterbury, the board give serious consideration to building a major hospital north of the Waimakariri i river.

“The population north of the river would not support a major hospital.” said the board’s institutions committee. “Nor are there specialist medical staff living in the area. “The advent of the motorway will greatly assist the transporting of patients from the district to the major hospital facilities in Christchurch city.”

It was suggested the position should be explained to Federated Farmers and that it be asked to indicate in what respect the present facilities were considered to be inadequate, so that sympathetic consideration could be given by the board.

“In the committee’s opin-i lon the erection of a major hospital would not achieve the result expected because it is only by consolidated services in fewer institutions that a fully adequate and first-class hospital service can be built up.” the committee’s report said. It was hoped that the board’s reply would allay Federated Farmers’ worries, although there was more in the matter than met the eye, said Mr J. B. Hay. NEW MOTORWAY The new motorway would make access to main institutions much easier, and the board should give every assistance to the St John Ambulance organisation. When Federated Farmers was told “the true facts” it would be satisfied, he said. The farmers’ organisation was genuinely concerned and was thinking of when access was cut off by flooding, said Mr F. W. Gilbert. He urged an investigation of the use of helicopters. Were there any specific complaints from the North

I Canterbury area? asked Mr H. |i O. Hills. “I am the member Is j for the area, and I have had | < I no complaints,” he said.| j "People should write to us t with their complaints about | < j the hospital or ambulance ser- i < i vice, if they have any.” 11 “RED-HOT TOPIC” j] j Mr V. J. Corbett said the ' : matter was “a red-hot topic” I in Cheviot. “But I appeal to ’ I people to find out the truth, ' j rather than take too much 1 ■ notice of rumours,” he added. 1 | “I can assure the people of : i Cheviot this hospital is going 1 to remain open,” Dr. Averill 1 I said. He hoped they would I

make use of it, and help the staff so they would enjoy their stay there. The Cheviot Sub-Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association wrote to the board expressing concern at rumours regarding the future of the hospital, and asking the board's intentions. The institutions committee's report said: “The responsibility of ambulance personnel working without the authority of a doctor has also been sought, in the event of the local doctor leaving the district. An appropriate reply has been sent.”