Hospital cuts

Press, 11 October 1988, Page 20

Hospital cuts

Sir, —Once again the elderly and infirm and young people are falling victims to the present economic situation. How can hospital boards justify closing wards; Reefton Hospital, for example? Has the Government lost touch with the human aspect of life to such an extent that old people have to be frightened of being taken from the security of the care they have been used to and farmed out to private hospitals where they will probably end up being treated like second-class citizens by the wealthy who can afford full private fees? Elderly people in Reefton should be allowed to live out their lives in their own home town. The recent floods would have isolated them from their families had they been in Greymouth. Until such time as the economy improves, the full proceeds of Lotto should be devoted to health and medical research, etc. The children of New Zealand are our future and a little bit of Christian charity should be allowed to move into the hearts of some of our politicians before they, too, face old age and need care. The children of today are the future nurses, doctors and politicians. —Yours, etc.,

J. B. MITCHELL. October 4, 1988.

Sir,—l am disturbed and disappointed that the Canterbury Hospital Board has once again proposed cutbacks to services for children in efforts to alleviate the board’s financial difficulties. The impending termination of 24-hour care for disturbed children and adolescents (in Ward 24 and Sunnyside) will most certainly be a major loss for families with children in crisis who may need round-the-clock attention and therapy. The medical profession has recently been

encouraged to support patients’ rights. Who is speaking for these children, without votes or voices, who have difficulty enough expressing their own needs? Without proper assistance, they may not survive long enough to benefit from one of the two cardiac units Christchuf-ch may be supporting in the near future. — Yours, etc., MICHAEL DILLON. October 7, 1988.