CHCH Women’s Hospital Not for Men

Media Release Sunday 22 November 2009

CHCH Women’s Hospital Not for Men

“Health Cuts Hurt supports the extensions to Christchurch Women’s Hospital (CWH) but opposes the placing of the male urology ward within it,” Chairperson of patient lobby group, Health Cuts Hurt, Heather Carter said today. She was commenting on the decision by the CDHB to go ahead with urgent additions to levels two and three of the CWH building, which was only opened in 2005.

"The statement that this is only for five years and the additional space in Women's Hospital would still be needed once urology moved into a new building in 2016 has no credibility to us. Once an exception is made and a male ward is added, new emergencies will arise,” said Heather Carter.

“Look at how wrong the predictions were before 2005 about the number of births that the new CWH was to cater for.”

“Urology is to be situated at one end of the Gynaecology ward with a dedicated entry/exit door,” said Heather Carter. “It is claimed this will maintain the integrity of the Women’s Hospital, future proof the CWH, and minimize potential impact on the philosophy of care which puts women at the centre of the care.”

“Time will tell of course but in principle the philosophy of separate facilities for women’s health has been breached,” said Heather Carter.

“It is a catch 22 – if this experiment “works” then there will be future arguments for other wards in the CWH area; if the experiment does not work, then the battle for separate facilities has been lost.”

“Health Cuts Hurt asks the CDHB to reconsider the alternatives to placing the urology ward in CWH,” said Heather Carter.

ENDS

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