Move to stop closing

Press, 18 June 1980, Page 6

Move to stop closing

A Christchurch city councillor, Cr D. J. Rowlands, has urged the Minister of Health (Mr Gair) to reject the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s proposal to close’ Essex Maternity Hospital. In a letter to Mr Gair, Cr Rowlands has said that for a cost calculated by the board of $520,000, Essex Hospital could be brought to a “very satisfactory standard.” Improvements recommended by the board, Mr Rowlands said, included $300,000 for a new delivery room, theatre, nursery and refurbishing of equipment. Abr .it $120,000 would be needed for a sprinkler system and about $lOO,OOO for a lift.

“With these improvements and the ante-natal screening Of the most difficult cases, Essex could function with a very small risk factor,” Cr Rowlands said.

Essex Hospital had a reputation for high quality personal care akin to that at small country maternity hospitals, and there was continuity of staff because it was small.

"This is especially important to Polynesian parents. Nursing staff have more time to assist with nursing mothers and baby-care education,” he said. In all the planning to close Essex Hospital, the consumer or patient had not been consulted.