Final cuts decisions due today

Press, 23 November 1988, Page 3

Final cuts decisions due today

By

SARAH SANDS

Final decisions on the Canterbury Hospital Board’s most controversial costcutting proposals will be made today.

Sub-committees set up by the board at a meeting on October 17 have been studying the implications of closing Jubilee Hospital, moving the children’s psychiatric ward from Christchurch Hospital, and reducing the adolescent unit at Sunnyside Hospital to a day ward. The Jubilee Hospital sub-committee held a public meeting last Wednesday to gauge public feeling on the closing. Both sub-committees will report to a board meeting this morning, where final decisions will be made. The board is faced with cutting $l5 million to stay

within this year’s budget. Decisions made so far are likely to save only $2.7 million to $6 million. More cuts will be needed in the next financial year. Last month's cost-cut-ting meeting was marred by angry outbursts from about 60 members of the public as well as board members. Several times the board’s chairman, Mr Tom Grigg, struggled to restore order as chants and shouts against the cuts prevented board members from speaking. A big public contingent is expected this morning as community groups interested in health have

been passing around pamphlets for the last few days, urging people to attend. A spokeswoman for the Canterbury Health Coalition, Ms Jackie Newton, said yesterday that the public needed to attend because it was their health system. “People have said loud and clear over the last two months that they don’t want the cuts, so we need to be there to see that the board respects the wishes of the public who elected them.” The coalition will hold a rally in Oxford Terrace outside the board offices at noon.