Board affirms policy on care of aged

Press, 4 July 1978, Page 6

Board affirms policy on care of aged

The North Canterbury Hospital Board had no plan to change “to any great extent” the proportion of care given to the elderly in institutions compared with those at home, said the board’s chairman (Mr T. C. Grigg) yesterday. Mr Grigg was commenting in a prepared statement on articles in “The Press” by John Brown. The articles, on care of the aged, contained many statements which "must be answered,” Mr Grigg said. The board had 5 per cent of elderly people over the age of 65 in institutions, and 95 per cent living at home, he said. There were no plans to change this proportion and there would always be a need for some beds in institutions, “small or fairly large, public and private.”

“There is no indecision: services for the elderly are being improved in consultation with the many private agencies,” Mr Grigg said.

Mr Grigg noted the establishment of the new post of co-ordinator of geriatric and domiciliary services as mentioned in the articles. This was set up with a Government grant of $127,000. It was quite unrealistic in view of this appointment made four weeks ago, to suggest that the board had! “failed so far to slow the; demand for care in institutions,” said Mr Grigg. The establishment of ai geriatrics advisory committee by the board’s medical superintendent-in-chief| (Dr L. McH. Berry) was a;

further important step in care of the aged. This committee, which advises Dr Berry, comprises representatives of private agencies and senior board staff. “This committee has made several recommendations so far, such as a high priority for a day hospital, additional staff in the geriatric area, and extension of domiciliary services including social work, occupational therapy, and domiciliary physiotherapy, all of which are being worked on,” said Mr Grigg. “Much has been made of the geriatrics advisory committee reporting through Dr Berry. He actually refers all matters requiring board approval to the appropriate committees of the board,” he said.

The moving of Christchurch Women’s Hospital to the Christchurch site was approved by the Health Department in 1975, Mr Grigg said.

“The possiple use of Christchurch Women’s Hospital as a geriatric hospital seems to be concerning some members of the executive of the Aged People’s Welfare Council. The board has received an architectural report on Coronation Hospital which says it has a limited useful life span. The board would be irresponsible if it did not investigate all possible means of replacing these beds. “The feasibility study to convert Christchurch Women’s Hospital was approved in 1977 and the first meeting of the working partv was held in February,

1978. The committee reported to a sub-committee of the board’s works committee in early June, 1978,” said Mr Grigg. “Concern about this proposed project was expressed at the annual meeting of the Aged People’s Welfare Council and therefore it was thought that an informal meeting should take place between representatives of the council and the North Canterbury Hospital Board, in an effort to clear up some of the misunderstandings. As most of the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s members had not seen these proposals, it was also felt that the opportunity to let both bodies see what was being prepared was taken.”

Some other possible uses for Christchurch Women’s Hospital had still to be investigated. and all these alternatives would be taken into account before a final decision was made, Mr Grigg said. “Caring for the elderly in North Canterbury is a major part of the work of the board, but it must be understood that the board is obligated to provide a full range of medical and hospital services, catering from the young through the not so young. “The attitude of the board is to continue to consult with appropriate bodies engaged in the provision of health care in North Canterbury, but all decisions must be made within the financial and policy guidelines set down by the Government,” Mr Grigg said. '