Open meeting on hospital cuts declined

Press, 28 September 1988, Page 11

Open meeting on hospital cuts declined

A proposal that the Canterbury Hospital Board hold a public meeting to discuss its budget cuts was declined again by the board yesterday. On Monday, 15 people who objected to the board’s discussing the cuts in closed committee were forced to leave after being cautioned by police. Representatives of the union and community groups which had taken part in the protest on Monday met the board yesterday to discuss their concerns. A spokeswoman for the groups, Ms Jackie Newton, said that they were given a courteous reception but all their proposals were turned down. “We said the board should seek public support to resist the cuts imposed by the Government and we suggested that the board should hold a public meeting on that issue,” said Ms Newton. “The board’s response was that it regarded the cuts as a fait accompli.” A challenge that the board hold the next meeting to discuss budget cuts in the open was also declined, she said.

“The board did say that once it had decided on the preferred cuts it would consider having some public input — our reaction to that is that it is too little, too late.” The chairman of the board, Mr Tom Grigg, said last evening that there was no point in holding a public meeting until the board had decided what cost-cutting options would be considered. The meeting which began on Monday would be continued tomorrow but it would probably be about a fortnight before the meeting that made the final decisions was held, he said. While this would leave only five months before the end of the financial year .to implement proposals, the board felt it had to give everyone an opportunity to comment, said Mr Grigg. Ms Newton said that the groups would continue to bring the budget cuts and the lack of consultation to the attention of the public. “When more information becomes available on what the board is up to we will get into gear with our own public meeting.”