Cuts claim rot, says Grigg

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 1

Cuts claim rot, says Grigg

By

SARAH SANDS

Reports that the plastic surgery unit at Burwood Hospital would be reduced to accommodate elderly patients from Jubilee Hospital were absolute rubbish, said the chairman of the Canterbury Hospital Board, Mr Tom Grigg, yesterday. With the board planning to close Jubilee Hospital and move some patients to Burwood Hospital, a report was being prepared on how all areas of the hospital could be better used, said Mr Grigg. The plastic surgery ward was not the only area to be looked at — the total occupancy of Burwood was not as high as some of the other hospitals. The board’s medical superin-tendent-in-chief, Dr Ross Fairgray, said yesterday that closing a plastic surgery ward was “merely a suggestion” about moving patients round to accommodate an intake from Jubilee. “The board has not made a decision nor has the board been asked to consider closing an acute ward at Burwood to help in the relocation of Jubilee patients,” said Dr Fairgray. A suggestion was made that wards that did not have a high occupancy rate should be considered as potential areas for receiving other patients. As the plastic surgery wards had had a relatively low bed occupancy of about 60 per cent recently, they were included in the general statement, he said. “Of course, the importance of acute plastic surgery is bound to be considered when alternatives are listed. “Those people who have advised the news media of the options available ’to the board have merely created unnecessary concern and have done nothing to assist patients or board members who are required to implement Government policy.” Mr Grigg said that the board had to cut $l5 million from its spending this year to stay within budget. The board had agreed in principle to close Jubilee Hospital to achieve part of the savings. About 30 elderly patients would be transferred to Burwood, he said. Staff at the plastic surgery unit at Burwood Hospital have been told by the board not to comment on the suggestion to close one of the wards.