23 Nov 2012

Closure of West Coast hospital laundry likely

3:09 pm on 23 November 2012

Nineteen employees at Grey base hospital on the West Coast face losing their jobs as the district health board tries to find money to cover earthquake strengthening of their building.

They are employed at the hospital laundry which the DHB is looking to close permanently.

It is consulting on whether to continue a temporary contract with Canterbury Linen Services to supply hospital linen.

The building housing the laundry has been declared a high earthquake risk and unsafe to occupy.

Chief executive David Meates said staff will continue to be paid until a decision is made.

He said the burgeoning costs of bringing Grey base hospital buildings up to seismic standard, mean it is neither affordable nor responsible to invest in new laundry services there.