Long-term hospital care discussed

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33649, 26 September 1974, Page 7

Long-term hospital care discussed

The North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday agreed to recommend to the incoming board that a sub-committee, be set up to consider services for the care of the aged and other long-term nursing care cases.

The recommendation was made on the motion of Mr H. A. Clark after the institutions committee reported that it had held two special meetings to consider the question of long-stay patients using private hospital beds. As a result of the meetings three recommendations were made. They were: That the board have discussions with the organisations interested in providing beds on a contractual basis. That once financial and other implications were known, a request to proceed with the acqui-

sition of beds on a contractual basis be made to the Department of Health. That an increase in longstay beds be provided when the board takes over Christchurch Women’s Hospital for other purposes. Mrs M. D. Jackson said I there was not only a need tn ’cater for the elderly sick but also for the young chrom|cally disabled, and that I [specific plans must be made! 'for the care of both groups. : Mr T. C. Grigg said that’ i providing such services wa“ a matter of priorities for the I use of available money. I “When the community’ is [prepared to put a lot more :into the care of the aged' then we will go ahead,” said Mr Grigg.