Patients’ Rights backs protest

Press, 26 November 1980, Page 7

Patients’ Rights backs protest

The Patients’ Rights ' Group has joined the proI test about difficulties faced by disabled people in finding car-parks near file rear of Christchurch Hospital. The publicity officer for Patients’ Rights, Mrs Felicity Paerata, said that the issue was one which i demanded urgent action I ‘‘Patients’ Rights is j firmly- committed to the ' principle that the coni sumers must have a I proper sav in hospital ■ planning. The stand taken l last week by Mrs Margery i Moyse in Making it clear I to hospital and city couni cil authorities that parking must be provided for disabled people close to trie hospital treatment areas was a courageous effort in the face of what has so far been a lot of i buck-passing by officiali doni,” Mrs Paerata said, j Resolution of the rights i of the disabled to have a ! few special parks set ! aside at the rear of the i hospital was vital, she . said.

“Our group is determined for the patients* voices to be heard. The

action taken by Mis Moyse is well supported by many, many people. We are right behind her efforts.”

Mrs Moyse, who last week defied a parking ban. said she was determined to continue to fight file issue of car parking for the disabled at ■ the rear of the Christchurch Hospital.

She has delivered a ‘ notice of intent” to the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay) for perusal also by city .councillors and “concerned departments” . stating that she will continue to park -er car at the rear of the hospital on .Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10.45 and 11.30 a.m., while she is having physiotherapy treatment.

The strip of land where Mrs Moyse intends to park her car includes shingle and lawn adjacent to the Avon River bank. It is Domains Board land, administered by the City Council and held in trust by the North Canterbury Hospital Board. Mrs Moyse said that the land was set aside for the

use of patients' years ago when the length of stay in hospital was much longer. “Now we as a group of disabled patients want to make short-time use of this piece of land to assist in our treatment. I have had strong support from many people o . this issue and we are prepared to form- a group .-to picket fire area if that is necessary” ■ - ■ .. : . ■

Mrs Moyse said that in the light-of the fact that 1951 was the International Year for Disabled Persons the “mess’’ surrounding the car-parking for ‘the disabled at • Christchurch Hospital was an indictment of the authorities involved. “There are many. peopleworse off than myself and I am determined Mt? a strong stand will be taken which caribe of benefit to al! disabled people.” Hospital authorities will meet city council officers on November '2B to discuss die car-parking issue.■