HCH Seeks U Turn On Sale Of Queen Mary Land

HCH Seeks U Turn On Sale Of Queen Mary Land

“The Canterbury District Health Board should read the political writing on the wall over the closure of schools and reverse the closure of Queen Mary Hospital and the sale of its land,” Heather Carter of Health Cuts Hurt said today. Health Cuts Hurt Inc represents a cross-section of individuals including a number of ex-patients of Queen Mary who have opposed the CDHB’s move.

“For the Board to accept the recommendation of its staff to sell the land at Queen Mary will amount to political suicide for any Board members wanting to be re-elected in Health Board elections in October,” said Heather Carter. “The mood of the country has become really clear – Kiwis are sick of the Labour Government closing schools, selling hospital lands and generally acting like the Governments of the 1980s and 1990s.”

“Land designated and accepted by the local community for use in mental health or alcohol and drug rehabilitation needs to be retained for future generations and not sold to pay for short term deficits today,” said Heather Carter. “The current P epidemic shows that drugs are not under control in this country. Alcohol is still a major issue as well and will remain so for the foreseeable future.”

“Given the link between last year’s closure of Queen Mary and the funding and establishment by the CDHB of the Maori alcohol and drug unit we believe that the Board should at least review its decisions. The whole debate around preference for Maori deserves a second look. Certainly Mr Mallard has indicated the Government is to do this, so we would assume the Board would do the same.”

“Our group which represents a cross-section of individuals including a number of ex-patients of Queen Mary will be meeting soon after the decision is made tomorrow to plan our response. Those who vote to sell the land at Queen Mary have to be prepared to be held accountable.”

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