Private heart unit ‘not opposed’

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 6

Private heart unit ‘not opposed’

Any move to establish a cardiac surgery unit in a private hospital would probably not be Opposed by the North Canterbury Hospital Board, said the chairman Of the board (Mr T. C. Grigg) last evening. However, Mr Grigg emphasised that this was his own personal opinion and he could not speak for other board members.

Mr Grigg was commenting On a suggestion by a Christchurch cardiologist. Dr F. T. L. Hull, that a unit capable of at least 50 operations a year: could be. set up at a private hospital for less than $30,000. I Because, of expenditure] cuts it would not at present

I be possible tor the board to !pay for cardiac surgery for i patients in a private hospital, said Mr Grigg. Dr Hull said his suggestion was based on “high-quality heart surgery” already being done at the Mater Private Hospital, Auckland. The cost of the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s planned unit, an estimated $2 million, was so high only because surgical facilities would be required. Dr Hull believes that facilities at the Southern Cross Trust Hospital, which are slightly more modern than those at Auckland’s Mater Hospital, would be “adequate” for cardiac surgery. • Once a surgery arid hos j pital beds were found, all that would be needed was a special hot-water supply, a

pump oxygenator, a pressure monitor in the theatre, and another pressure monitor in a small intensive-care room.

Dr Hull said he believed that there were spare hospital beds and theatre sessions available at the Southern Cross Hospital. Dr Hull said he would discuss the proposal with the chairman of the Southern Cross Hospital Board’s management committee (Mr N. F. Greenslade). The cost of cardiac surgery for patients in the Mater hospital, excluding surgeon’s fees, was about $2400. He suggested that the Hospital Board could contract work to the unit, paying some of the costs for patients not covered by comprehensive' medical insurance.