‘Considerable increase’ in funding required

Press, 29 June 1987, Page 5

‘Considerable increase’ in funding required

A considerable increase in funding is needed to extend the infertility services at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, says a report by the Canterbury Hospital Board. The draft service development plan for obstetric and gynaecology services said that there had been an increasing demand for the infertility services provided by the board at the hospital.

About 60 new infertility referrals were being made each year and the Christchurch Infertility Society had asked that the service be improved. The society’s submission for a better service referred to delays in getting appointments, a lack of information, poor follow-ups, and inadequate counselling, said the report. “They request a greater ‘couple orientated* service separated

from the general gynaecology clinic. However, unless there is a considerable increase in funding, an extension of infertility services may be difficult to obtain.” In the gynaecology section of the report, reference was also made to the lack of social work support services for gynaecological patients. “At present the one social worker at Christchurch Women’s Hospital is fully stretched in meeting the needs of obstetric patients and is not able to offer a service to gynaecology wards. “It is ■ felt that the social work needs women are presenting to the hospital are inadequately served. The social work staff should be expanded if adequate provision is to be made to meet the emotional and psycho-social needs of patients.”

Proposals made in the report to improve the gynaecology services offered by the board include: Building a corridor between the nurses hostel and the main hospital block. Extending wards 1 and .2 to provide two 25-bed wards. Enlarging the ultrasound facility and in- ’ creasing staff numbers in that area. Enlarging the operating theatre area. Providing adequate quarters for physiotherapy services. Providing a new ambulance bay and admission station for gynaecology services. “The principal changes required to improve services are those which will permit greater efficiency, cost effectiveness and patient comfort,” the report said.