No Govt assurance

Press, 20 August 1983, Page 9

No Govt assurance

A North Canterbury Hospital Board deputation seeking Government approval for the resiting of its abortion services got no assurances from the Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm, yesterday.

The chairman of the board, Mr T. C. Grigg, the chairman of the health services committee, Mrs L. C. Gardiner, the chief executive officer, Mr R. I. Parker, and the medical superin-tendent-in-chief, Dr R. A. Fairgray, met the Minister in Wellington yesterday.

The board wants to transfer the abortion ser-

vices from Christchurch Women’s Hospital to another site, because of the pressure of work at the hospital. The conversion of an unused house in the grounds of Coronation Hospital to a free-standing abortion clinic has been suggested. Dr Fairgray said last evening that the meeting was very cordial, but no commitments were made on either side. Mr Grigg said the Minister planned to have discussions with the Abortion Supervisory Committee before any further steps were

taken. “He emphasised that from everything he had heard he congratulated the staff of Christchurch Women’s Hospital on the standards of all services carried out there.” Discussions were continuing and Mr Grigg said he expected further negotiations with the Minister in the “not • too distant future.” He. did not believe the meeting had been a waste of time. “The Minister now has a much clearer picture of what we are asking for ...we did not expect any more than we got.”