TUESDAY 15 JANUARY 2002

“Senior Doctors: Closure Of Hillmorton Hospital Justified”

“Under the special extraordinary circumstances the decision of the Canterbury District Health Board to close mental health services at Hillmorton Hospital was made on sound clinical grounds and is justified,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“There has been false misleading claims that this was a managerial overreaction. These claims are dishonourable rubbish. The decision was based on the strong considered advice of experienced specialist psychiatrists seriously worried and frightened about the effect on patient safety of the escalating industrial dispute. If the dispute further widens more closures may be necessary on grounds of patient safety.”

“We are the forgotten union whose members are the meat in the sandwich in a dispute that they are not party to and have been placed under extreme stress. Our members have to pick up the pieces and are the only ones that carry the medico-legal responsibility when patients are harmed.”

“We are pleased that the Nurses Organisation has adopted a mature position in not engaging in making these false accusations,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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