Burwood change may quiet Lions’ growls

Press, 29 July 1976, Page 6

Burwood change may quiet Lions’ growls

i The North Canterbury Hospital Board has reverted to its original plan for a 10-bed convalescent hostel to be built as part of the new spinal injury unit at Burwood Hospital. The board had considered enlarging the hostel, and building has been delayed waiting for a decision.

I Lions Clubs have raised about $70,006 for the hostel and are unset about the delay with the project.

The chairman of the finance committee (Mr C. F. Whitty) told the board that the Lions planned a meeting next month and some members were “so hot that they wanted to withdraw the contribution.”

The chairman of the works committee (Mr W. L. F. Utley) said that because of the economic situation the 20bed hostel which had been designed when the board agreed to take over building it was virtually planning 10 to 20 years ahead.

The hostel to be built by the Lions clubs would have had eight to 10 beds, and the 20 beds and increased facilities would have been difficult to justify in the present ecoomic climate, said Mr Utley.! A user group had agreed toi ask for a hostel with 10 beds — reverting to the original brief. The hostel would be a “half-way place” for those still needing hospital care and preparing to live in the community. If the revised plan was accepted fewer nursing staff would be needed, he said. The hostel was an essential part of the unit and the smaller unit stood more chance of being approved and would be adequate for the next five years. Two self-care, motel type

[units will he built, as was the original intention. This revised sketch plan has been sent to the Health Department for approval. Nuclear ship visit A code of practice for use in a nuclear accident involving visiting nuclear-powered vessels had been received and would be passed on toj staff, the medical superin-1 tendent-in-chief (Mr L. McH. Berry) told the board. A special area had been set aside for decontamination of those affected by radioactiv-] ity, with provision for re-] moval of their clothing and; water to wash them. Only those with serious injuries would be admitted to hospital. Most decontamina-1 tion would be done by the] Civil Defence organisation] and monitoring for radioact-1 ivity would be done on an i outpatient basis by the hos-l pital. Dr Berry said the chances of such an accident were very slight. Nuclear-powered vessels had gone in and out of ports for many, many years without problem.

Cheviot change j Cheviot Hospital may be ] (converted to a health or [medical centre I The hospital closed recently and the chairman of the institutions committee ] (Mrs L. C. Gardiner) said it ] might be used by a doctor ] as a surgery, with treatment ' area and X-ray equipment. The scheme was practical [ and not too expensive. ‘No parking’ Mrs M. McG. Clark said she had had two general complaints from people taking patients to Christchurch Hospital for treatment. They > could find nowhere to stop

[and let patients out of the car. Mrs Clark asked if porters could be told to watch for such cases. It was causing distress to patients and frustration the the public, she said. The chairman of the board (Mr T. C. Grigg) said recommendations had been made for an area for two to Ithree cars to stop to let [people out. Govt delay

The clinical services block at Christchurch Hospital is .expected to be finished in ] March next year. The east 'and west ward blocks are up jto schedule and should be completed next year. i A letter expressing conIcern at the delay in getting (approval for the clinical services block equipment schedule will he sent to (he [Department of Health. The [schedule was first submitted iin June, 1975 and the opening of the building was dependent on it being fully equipped. Copies of the letter will be sent also to the Minister of Health (Mr Gill) and local members of Parliament.

Dr Berry will investigate the delay with costing for the ward blocks equipment schedule, which still has to be submitted to the department for approval. Retirement, prize Board' members farewelled Professor D. T. Stewart, who retired as chairman of pathology services. Professor Stewart has been a hospital emnloyee for 39 years. The Ardagh Memorial Prize for final year medical students was presented to Dr D. N. J. Hart by Mr Grigg. The award is given bv the Canterbury Park Trotting Club in memory of Brigadier P. A. Ardagh.