Extensions to hospital opened

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33091, 5 December 1972, Page 6

Extensions to hospital opened

The development of the Welfare State and the much greater expectation of life in New Zealand raised the problem of increasing numbers of elderly people requiring hospital and nursing care, Dr L. C. L. Averill, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, said in Christchurch yesterday.

Speaking at the laying of the foundation stone for extensions to the Nurse Maude Memorial Hospital in McDougall Avenue, St Albans, Dr Averill said the problem had to be dealt with and the Nurse Maude Association was equal to the task. “In all other centres throughout New Zealand, the local hospital board has the direct responsibility of or? ganising and maintaining a district nursing service. In Christchurch, although the North Canterbury Hospital Board is responsible for 75 per cent of the cost of the district nursing service and 100 per cent of the cost of part of the home aid service, yet the board has been very happy to leave the management of both these services in the capable hands of the Nurse Maude Association,” said Dr Averill. The North Canterbury Hospital board appoints three members to the Nurse Maude Board. The two services were complementary and over the years literally thousands of patients had been referred to

the Nurse Maude District Nursing Service on discharge from the general hospitals. So great had been the demand for beds in the association’s hospitals that there had been an occupancy rate approaching 100 per cent for 10 years, he said. Dr Averill laid the foundation stone for the 42-bed extensions, which will include psychiatric, physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities. The association has received a Government subsidy of $360,000 for the extensions, the total cost of which will be $676,000. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering) said Nurse Maude and her association had always showed energy and resourcefulness. A great deal of foresight had been in “creating a haven for a large number of people in need. The chairman of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association board (Mr L. D. Cotterill), also spoke.