Hospital fund cuts hit Burwood plans

Press, 8 September 1982, Page 6

Hospital fund cuts hit Burwood plans

, Reduced hospital funding meant that new services needed at Burwood Hospital could be contemplated only if other services were cut, says a report on the development of Burwood Hospital, prepared for the North Canterbury Hospital Board. When Princess Margaret and Christchurch hospitals recently had overflowing acute medical and surgical wards, Burwood Hospital “had not been able to give a greal deal of assistance,” the report says.

Burwood had not been able to take as many extra convalescent patients as it wished because of lack of room in its convalescent ward. One of four recommendations for change in Burwood Hospital plans includes the reorganisation of Ward 4. a convalescent medical ward that recently has become filled with long-stay patients, rather than convalescents. “Once Ward 4 was reorganised all types of care for the aged would be available

in one central area,” the report says.

These were an acute assessment area for direct admissions, a convalescent area for the elderly, a longstay area, a day hospital, and a hospice. Elderly patients could then be admitted to Burwood for appropriate care, rather than to one of the Princess Margaret or Christchurch acute wards.

The report says that in 1981, the total population in the board’s area was 349,450, of whom 36,185 were aged over 65. In 2001, the total Christchurch population is expected to be 406,880, of whom 42.756 would be over--65.

“Existing acute hospital services are fully used. About 70 patients in acute hospitals are there waiting for long-stay beds, and another 70 are in their own homes awaiting care,” it says. Other recommendations for Burwood include the

building of the planned physical medicine unit, the setting up of a limb centre, and the siting of all rehabilitation services at Burwood. “The physical medicine unit was planned many years ago. It is essential the unit be built because existing physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities are definitely sub-standard,” the report says. “Spinal injury patients receive care in less than ideal conditions and the development of the physical medicine unit would improve things markedly, especially for the young physically disabled.” Approval to call tenders for the unit is.sought from the Health Department. The report also recommended that Burwood be the onlv South Island site for full rehabilitation services, including work training or retraining facilities, paramedical services, and co-ordina-tion with appropriate organisations and Government bodies. •