Unit’s delay ‘embarrassing’

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 7

Unit’s delay ‘embarrassing’

Delays in establishing a bone marrow transplant unit at Christchurch Hospital were criticised by a member of the Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday.

Mr David Close said the board should be embarrassed that it had been granted a service development grant several months ago but had still not decided where to put the unit. The board often complained about delays by bureaucrats “but here is an example where we have not made up our own minds. “I am concerned that we are delaying and delaying coming to any sort of decision — it’s not a

magic answer to refer items like this to an overburdened corporate management group,” said Mr Close. The board’s acting general manager, Mr Ron Parker, said there were difficulties in accommodating the unit at Christchurch Hospital because no ward was willing to give up space. “We have learned that before we seek approval and funding we have to make sure that there is a space and total approval first.” Board members asked that the corporate man-, agement group present to the next board meeting options of where the unit could be placed.