‘Complacency shown’

Press, 23 July 1987, Page 2

‘Complacency shown’

Complacency had been shown in many aspects of the board’s obstetric and gynaecology service development plan, said a board member, Mr David Close.

“I was very disappointed in the document as a service development plan. One expects a development plan to have proposals for the future,” he said.

The plan had almost no proposal for the future, particularly in the gynaecology section.

“The obstetrics section does have a page where it deals with specific aims and objectives but the gynaecology section has no aims and merely a few paragraphs on specific plans.

“The service development plan does not ask what services we should provide and to what level.”

Many aspects of the plan showed complacency, he said.

“It mentions that the waiting list for sterilisations has remained at about 18. months since 1978. It is mentioned almost as a matter of congratulation. “I really do think (the development plan) needs a major rewrite and not merely a few amendments here and there. I would like to see much more orientation to service developments for the future rather than a review of past procedures.”

The board’s chief executive, Mr Ron Parker, said that the intention of the service de-

velopment plans was to review present services and highlight areas that needed attention.

“It is premature to look at how we are going to deal with these things. When all the plans are complete the board can look at the highlighted areas and decide where the resources should go.”

The board would then have to decide which services would be reduced so that additional funds could be made available for the areas in need, said Mr Parker. The chairman of the health services committee, Mrs June Gardiner, said the public meeting organised by the board to discuss the obstetric and gynaecology plan had been successful. “It was a well attended meeting and I hope there will be submissions along the lines of the discussions heard.” Professor Don Beaven said public meetings were valuable and allowed the health consumers to have dialogue with professional people.

“We have got to make opportunities for dialogue with people in Christchurch and all of Canterbury so that they can express their coiicerns and have their say. That is terribly important.”

Meeting with task force

Canterbury Hospital Board members will meet the task force examining hospital and health related services on August 10.

The task force would meet the board, the board’s policy committee, and senior members of staff, said the board’s chairman, Mr Tom Grigg.