Extra subsidies ‘not enough’

Press, 1 November 1982, Page 4

Extra subsidies ‘not enough’

The few extra subsidies granted recently for geriatic patients in hospitals would make no difference to the number of old people occupying acute beds. Mr T. M. McGuigan told the tNorth Canterbury Hospital Board. “I think it is important that we realise the situation is not as good as it looks.” he said. "Those who would qualify for the extra subsidies are occupying acute medical and surgical beds in hospitals, but the extra subsidies only reflect the growing number of elderly people who need long-term care." he said. The board was recently granted 43 extra subsidies, as a result of the increased number of people living in Christchurch at the last census. The subsidies are based on population. Mrs L. C. Gardiner said that the extra subsidies would alleviate the situation in the short term, but they would soon be overtaken by the increasing elderly population. Board members are still upset about the Government’s decision to allow the Anglican Social Services to have additional long-stay beds at one of its hospitals for the elderly, when there is an acute shortage of public long-stay beds for the elderly, in geriatric hospitals

run by the board. The board is still waiting for a reply from the Health Department clarifying the issue. Once this is received, the board has agreed to meet with the Private Hospitals' Association to discuss the general provision of beds in the board's area. The board’s chief executive. Mr R. I. Parker, said he had just received sketch plans from the board's architects for replacement accommodation at Coronation Hospital, one of the board's two geriatric hospitals.