Hamner Pools

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 14

Hamner Pools

Sir, —Some internal pruning of the Hanmer Hospital was overdue; but why prune the one efficiently run section? It should be remembered that the taxpayer supports this hospital, and that patients, public, and tourists alike derive benefit from the baths and kiosk, the latter recently closed. And why the closing of the £35,000 physiotherapy building? Let the Government economise on some of its road works and hydro projects for a change. Is this just another Health Department bungle, or does the Government consider the health of its people of no importance?—Yours, etc., INTERESTED. April 11, 1967. [The director of the Division of Mental Health of the Department of Health (Dr. S. W. P. Mirams) replies: “The tea kiosk was recently closed because it was consistently

running at a loss. The hospital is at present without a physiotherapist on the staff but another appointment will be made as soon as possible. There is no intention of closing the physiotherapy building, although changes in the hospital’s function which have gone on in recent years have substantially reduced the need for physiotherapy services.”]