Rallies to protest hospital threat

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 5

Rallies to protest hospital threat

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

Queen Mary Hospital at Hanmer Springs will be the focus of four different rallies to be held throughout New Zealand to protest against possible moves to close it. Protest rallies will be held in Christchurch, Wellington,. Hamilton and Auckland, on August 11. The rallies had been organised by the hospital’s former patients, relatives and others concerned at the possibility of the alcohol and drug rehabilitation service being closed, said the Christchurch coordinator, Mrs Helen Chappell. The Christchurch rally will be in Cathedral Square at 12.30 p.m. Mrs Chappell, who is a former patient of Queen Mary, has collected more than 1000 signatures from Christchurch people in the last week for a petition opposing a closing. Closing the hospital is one of several options being considered by the Canterbury Area Health Board to help it cut

$3O million from its spending. “Queen Mary is a unique institution and should be treated as such,” said Mrs Chappell. “What some people don’t realise is< that the rehabilitation service is used by relatives of alcoholics. “An alcoholic’s behaviour also rubs off on the family, and it’s important they can also receive help.” Mrs Chappell said she spoke from experience, having received help as a family member at the hospital in February. She said the petition had “really taken off.” “Not many people signing the petition identify themselves as former patients, but lots of people have been strongly against the hospital closing.” Mrs Chappell said she would take her petition to the suburbs next week, starting with Aranui on Tuesday and Woolston and Ferry Road on Friday. A similar position is being circulated in Ashburton. ,