New abortion-clinic bid

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 6

New abortion-clinic bid

A proposal to set up an Aotea-type day clinic to perform abortions in Christchurch received a “favourable reception” when presented yesterday to a sub-, committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, according to the Christchurch branch of the Abortion Law Reform Association.

The branch, which presented the proposal, said that the hospital board’s subcommittee gave it a favourable reception, while noting that shortage of finance and staff might act against the proposal in the short term.

“No suggestion was made that this idea would be thrown out by the complete hospital board, and we are now hopeful that more steps will be taken to improve abortion facilities in Christchurch,” the branch said. The branch deputation met a sub-committee which comprised the medical superintendent of the Christchurch Women’s Hospital (Mr G. I. Louisson) an operating surgeon (Mr A. Foate), the acting medical superjntendent-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr

R. A. Fairgray), the chairman of the board’s institutions committee (Mrs L. C. Gardiner), the acting chief executive of the board (Mr G. W. Davies), the chairman of the board (Mr T. C. Grigg), and board members Mrs Mollie Clark, Mrs C. Cartwright, and Mrs F. Ferner. Mrs Gardiner, who chaired the sub-committee meeting, said last evening that a “useful discussion” had occurred, but no conclusion could be reached from the meeting without discussion by the full board.