Dawson was one of the 52 people who signed a letter seeking assurance from the board that a Christian chapel and an office for chaplains be given priority for the new hospital.

The signatories are mainly leaders of Presbyterian congregations across the South, but also including the Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, the Right Rev Stephen Benford,

The letter calls for a "discernable Christian presence" in the new hospital.

Hospitals and the health systems in which they operate can largely be said to be an invention of the church and they certainly rely on values espoused by the church throughout its 2000-year history, Dawson said

His further concern was the Christian faith would not be primarily represented within a city founded on Christian principles and a country in which, still, the largest group of people claiming religious adherence are Christian.

New Dunedin Hospital project director Hamish Brown told the board that management had tried to provide a "neutral and respectful approach to what is a complex and sensitive issue".

The multi-faith centre approach reflected modern health practice, and there was not enough space in the proposed hospital design for two chapels.

"It is important not to get hung up on size or square metres. It is important to consider its function," Mr Brown said.

Board member Tuari Potiki said he supported the recommendation.

He said the University of Otago operated a similar multi-faith prayer room.

"I think it's inclusive; it's practical, it sends the message that we should get on with each other."

Dawson said the university situation was not comparable to the hospital, as the chaplain's room had been rebuilt for Christian ministry as part of the prayer room development.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• odt.co.nz
• patheos.com
• Image: facebook.com

The forum was run by the Palmerston North Catholic Diocesan Justice, Peace and Development Commission in collaboration with Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand as part of Social Justice Week activities.

As part of a general election candidates' debate, social worker Jenny Porter was expected to join a community panel talking about addiction, social isolation and the role of others in supporting recovery.

The DHB's human resources and organisational development manager, Anne Amoore, said the directive was prompted by an employee asking for advice about participating in an event with political candidates present.

The reason given for the decision was that it could undermine the social worker's political neutrality as a state sector employee so close to a general election.

"Given the political attendance and the potential for political debate, it was suggested that the employee attend at a time after the election to ensure that she and the DHB were not compromised in any way," Amoore said.

The board's decision was in line with state sector guidelines for all government and crown entities, she said.

Forum organiser Dion Martin said the Porter had given very late notice that the board had told her not to attend. He said she had been "gagged" and he was "very disappointed".

Martin said upholders of social justice principles saw a crisis occurring in mental health, and it was important someone from the Board was available to respond to the debate.

But employment lawyer, Peter Cullen, in his column in the DomPost, said it was hard to see the forum as anything other than political.

"It's easy to see why the DHB took the stand it did - particularly two weeks before the election," he said.

"The DHB's indication that Porter is welcome to speak on these issues - after the general election - is a way of enabling freedom of expression without being drawn into party politics, " he said.

Source

• Manawatu Standard
• Stuff
• Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• Source: Stuff

Southlanders for Life spokesman Father Vaughan Leslie said the group was so disturbed by the lack of consultation with the public by the health board that a formal complaint would be laid with the ombudsman against the health board.

"The grounds for the complaint are the decision to implement this controversial service is being done without appropriate and required community communication and dialogue," Leslie said.

However, the health board said it was happy with the decision to go ahead with the service.

Acting chairman Paul Menzies said the board discussed the process undertaken to plan and approve the abortion service at Southland Hospital and was satisfied with its approach.

The abortion service is scheduled to begin before the end of this month but will depend on referrals, a health board spokesman said.

Source

• The Southland Times
• Image: Screen Shot The Tablet