Bed-sits may become available for patients

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 5

Bed-sits may become available for patients

A group of Christchurch City Council bed-sit units may be made available to Sunnyside Hospital for the rehabilitation of patients. The public utilities committee yesterday approved in principle the proposal subject to further details being negotiated with the Canterbury Hospital Board.

According to a report there had been problems in the past where patients accepted as tenants had not been given the necessary support and housing and property staff had had to cope with their problems. The council, however, had some obligation to house patients as money to build the units came from the Government’s

The committee recommended a pilot scheme be established allowing an existing bed-sit complex of elderly persons housing to be used as rehabilitation units.

Sunnyside Hospital health vote, the report would be responsible for said. guaranteeing rents and Sunnyside Hospital has overseeing the welfare of had trouble getting access the tenants. to rental units as eligibil-

ity was usually confined to people over 60. There was a need for low-cost facilities for the younger or middle-aged person who was independent enough to live by themselves, the social work department of the hospital said. The committee agreed that a pilot scheme would be .phased in as units became available.