Dept to stand in for Karitane

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 13

Dept to stand in for Karitane

Plans have been completed by the Social Welfare Department to cope with the needs of mothers and child-

i ren after the Christchurch i Karitane Hospital closes on |December 7. However, no. decision has been made ; about the sale of the hospital. The department in Christ-; I church has sent plans to its I head office explaining how< lit would cope with the needs! | of the mothers and babies for whom it has responsibility. This does not include: I provisions for sick children land their mothers; this I would be the responsibility of the North Canterbury; I Hospital Board. ; No decision has been made by the board about the number of places it might; make available in Christ-: church Hospital’s paediatric I department but there will be d'scussions soon between the Medical Superintendent-in-chief for the board (Dr L. I McH. Berry) and the Social [Welfare Department. I The discussions should es-

I tablish the dividing line between board and departmeni tai responsibility, and also I areas where there might be ) lan overlap.

A structural investigation :is being made of some of I the Karitane Hospital build[ings which the Social Weli fare Department might buy. The department is no longer (interested in the older part of the hospital, which it :once saw as a possible home Ito relieve pressure on its,; girls’ home in Ferry Road, h Cabinet approval will bell necessary before the depart- , ment can go ahead with the! purchase of any part of the < hospital. Its use as a recep- i Ition centre for social admis-h Isions was almost assured!; once Cabinet approval had d been received to buy part ofj; the property, said a spokes-|i man for the department. Decisions b ? the hospital board expected to be an- , nounced soon will include: provision for “some” moth- : I ers and babies in Ward 24 of the new clinical services I block at Christchurch Hospi-| tai. Il