Gore health services cut

Press, 1 September 1989, Page 6

Gore health services cut

PA Invercargill Surgery will cease at Gore Hospital and Winton Maternity Hospital will close, but $l.B million will have to be saved at the base hospital, the Southland Area Health Board says. It has scrapped plans to close three wards at Riverton and Lome geriatric hospitals in favour of closing a block of about 10 beds for a saving of about $215,000. Explaining the decision at a public meeting, the board’s chairman, Mr Lance Blaikie, said the board decided to "maintain as far as possible a viable base hospital and

those rural services for which there is no feasible alternative.” Mr Blaikie announced the decision to crises of "shame” from the audience of about 60 people. However, the board “insisted” that accident and emergency services would be provided at Gore, a statement met with cries of “How can you sleep at night?” and “You’re inhumane.” Estimated savings from this decision were trimmed from $1.3 million to $BOO,OOO. About 55 will lose their jobs. The board said it decided to close

Winton because it was a short distance from Invercargill. The board was prepared to provide support to the proposed trust operating the Tuatapere Maternity Hospital on a limited basis because of the scattered population and remoteness of Western Southland. It will lease the hospital to the trust at a token rental of $1 a year, provide a grant of $lOOO a month and for every delivery the board will grant $l5OO — even if some are transferred to the base hospital. But the board would only provide funding up to $60,000 a year.