Govt Moves Close Queen Mary Hospital Today
“78 Staff at the former Queen Mary Hospital (Hanmer Clinics) are attending meetings this morning to hear that their
jobs have gone as of today,” said Janice Gemmell, Organiser of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) today. She
was commenting on the decision by the Ministry of Health to force Hanmer Clinics to close its residential treatment
programme in Hanmer Springs and outpatients services nationwide immediately with the loss of 78 jobs.
“Hanmer Clinics an alcohol and drug treatment provider was due to close its residential treatment programme at Hanmer
Springs at the end of the month.”
“There are outpatient clinics in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, Hamilton, and Auckland. They now close as well,”
said Janice Gemmell. “A hundred years of practical success with Queen Mary residential services for mental health issues
like alcoholism and drug addiction has been dumped as of 5pm today.”
“It is our understanding that $3m a year would fully fund the Hospital. So the Government’s $30m contribution to Team
New Zealand’s yachting campaign would fund a decade’s extension to Queen Mary’s life,” said Janice Gemmell.
“The Labour Party Conference is on in Christchurch starting today,” said Janice Gemmell. “Our Union will be joining this
afternoon’s protest to persuade the Government to keep Queen Mary open.”