Board moves to set up cardiac unit

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33003, 24 August 1972, Page 15

Board moves to set up cardiac unit

After a 45-minute discussion in committee, the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday agreed to proceed with the establishment of a cardiac surgical unit in Christchurch.

After the chairman (Dr L. C. L. Averill) had outlined events leading to the decision and various questions from board members had been answered, a statement for public release was read by Dr Averill and approved by the board. In it Dr Averill said that the board would seek immediate Department of Health approval to advertise for a cardiac surgeon to lead the new department. He said that the location of such a unit in Christchurch was recommended by the Hospitals Advisory Council, as recorded in the Health Department’s annual report recently presented to Parliament.

However, it was pointed out that Dr Averill, the South Island’s member on the council, was not present during any part of the discussion on the matter.

Dr Averill said that the need ofr a cardiac surgical unit in Christchurch had been dictated by the increasing number of cases each year which after full investigations by cardiologists had to be referred elsewhere, principally Auckland, for curative surgery. In 1969 50 patients were referred elsewhere, in 1970 the number was 94, and last year it rose to 107. With the rapidly increasing population in the board’s district the establishment of a surgical unit was a necessity, said Dr Averill. The increasing case-load warranted such a facility. The unit would be centred at Princess Margaret Hospital, where some structural alterations would be necessary. Some new equipment, including a heart - lung machine, would be required, as well as additions to the nursing and technical staff. Dr Averill said that the staff at the hospital were already geared to the exacting requirements of thoracic

surgical work under Mr Heafn Thompson, so a unit should be functioning within six to nine months of the ■arrival of die cardiac surgeon to direct the new service.