Hospitals call for volunteers

Press, 10 March 1988, Page 1

Hospitals call for volunteers

SARAH SANDS,

health reporter

About 500 volunteers will be needed to help the Canterbury Hospital Board maintain essential services to patients during a strike by nurses, domestic workers and Public Service Association members on Monday.

The board’s chief executive, Mr Ron Parker, said yesterday that at least 500 volunteers would be needed to work in the four

general hospitals and two psychiatric hospitals that yvould be affected by the strike.' Volunteers would be required in some hospitals for the full 24 hours of the domestic workers and P.S.A. strike. But the greatest need would be between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., Mr Parker said.

More than 3000 hospital workers will strike over the State Sector Bill “next week. Nurses will strike for a week from Monday, March 14, and other workers, including domestic workers and members of the P.S.A., will strike for 24 hours from midnight on Sunday, March 13.

Requirements for volunteers for the rest of the week are not yet known. About 200 patients will have their non-urgent surgery admissions cancelled next week be-

cause of strikes. “Alt rough the Nurses’ Association lias given assurances that patienf safety will not be endangered, the board is concerned that patients will be affected by the Withdrawal of labour by orderlies, kitchen staff, cleaners, and other domestic workers,” Mr Parker said. "TiJe board is hopeful that essential patient care services will be able to be maintained with the help of the public.” In the four general hospitals, volunteers would be asked to do both heavy and light work, Mr Parker said. Heavy work would include pushilng food trolleys to and from wards, moving patients on trolleys and beds and in wheelchairs, distribution of linen, and collection of rubbish. ' ! Light work would include making tea and coffee |for patients, serving meals, and removing empty meal trays, i i The board was particularly concerned with getting enough

volunteers for Templeton and Sunnyside hospitals, Mr Parker said. “Patients at these hospitals are especially dependent ; on caring services and are more easily distressed by any disruptions to their routine. “These two hospitals, which will be the hardest hit by the action, will need volunteers to help bath, dress and feed patients. There will also be a need for people to just sit with patients.” As with general hospitals, volunteers would also be needed to help with many orderly and domestic duties, : said Mr Parker. "A specific appeal is i being made for people who live near Templeton or Sunnyside hospitals or have relatives or friends in them to call the co-ordinator of volunteers and register their willingness to help.” Those willing to help in the general hospitals are asked to call the co-ordinator off volunteers at any of the hospitals —

Christchurch, The Princess Margaret, Burwood, and Christchurch Women’s — between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. today and tomorrow to register. Volunteers for Templeton and Sunnyside hospitals should register in the same period, although calls will be taken through the week-end if required. The co-ordinators will record the hours that volunteers are willing to work and when rosters have been prepared the volunteers will be called and given reporting times. Mr Parker said the board wanted to alleviate as much as possible any distress to patients which might arise from the industrial action. The telephone numbers for the hospitals are: Christchurch, 792900; The Princess Margaret, 39169; Burwood, 831-311; Christchurch Women’s, 790-890; Sunnyside, 385-059; Templeton, 497199. Hospital waiting lists, page 6