Delay in health grants upsets hospital boards

Press, 5 July 1978, Page 1

Delay in health grants upsets hospital boards

By

JOHN BROWN

New Zealand’s 29 hospital boards are becoming restless about Government delays in announcing this year’s community-health grants, which might total $3.5M. Applications for the grant were made last February. In spite of a number of approaches to the Government last month, no date has been set for the release of the grant. Money for the commun-ity-health projects, which can be nominated by voluntary groups as well as hospital boards, is drawn from the estimated S26M collected by the Government in taxes on liquor and tobacco sales. Last year, more than S2M out of a total tax take of SI7M was given to hospital boards. The North Canterbury Hospital Board hopes to get about $28,000 for one of the four projects it has submitted for Government approval. The proposal is to link the work of the board direct to primary health

care in the community by setting up three new posts for a general practitioner, a nurse, and a social worker. The general practitioner’s position would be a part-time one, enabling the doctor to continue a private practice. The other two posts could be full time. All three posts will be advertised widely once the Government grants are announced. No appointments are likely to be made, however, until at least one

month after the announcement. Whatever happens, the board cannot possibly start this or any other commun-ity-health scheme before the end of this year. It had earlier been expected to start about May. Only one of last year's projects, the $127,000 coordination service for geriatric and domiciliary work, has got underway, although has got under way, although its staff. The appointment of the three new community-

health workers would fall in naturally with the work of the co-ordination service. Another proposal which could benefit thousands of persons is a joint project between the Canterbury Diabetic Society and the board to set up a diabetes centre at the Arts Centre to provide information and assistance for diabetes sufferers and their families. It would also act as a liaison centre for clinical work on diabetes and communityhealth work.