Launch History of Christchurch Spinal Unit

ACC and Disability Issues Minister Ruth Dyson
Launch of ‘A New Way of Living’, history of Christchurch Spinal Unit
Allan Bean Centre, Burwood Hospital, Christchurch
4.30pm, Wednesday, 11 February 2004

Rau rangatira maa,
tenei te mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ra.
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

[Distinguished guests, greetings to you gathered here for this purpose today. Greetings once, twice, three times to you all.]

Good afternoon, and thank you for inviting me to the launch of ‘A New Way of Living’. I bring greetings from my Christchurch colleagues Lianne Dalziel, Tim Barnett, Mahara Okeroa and Clayton Cosgrove.

This book is an important record of the history of the Christchurch Spinal Unit.

The unit was first established at Christchurch hospital in 1965 in Ward 13C. Always prepared to push the boundaries (physical as well as other!), it quickly outgrew the space and took over Ward 13B (down the hall).

Drivers behind the unit were Bill Utley, who is here today, Jake Cunningham and Bill Liddell.

The unit gained an immediate reputation for enabling people with spinal injuries to develop a new way of living and to get back into the community. Rehabilitation was the key, and that principle still holds true.

Bill was also responsible for organising the first meeting to set up a sports association for disabled people. It led to the national federation and some of the top sports activities for people with disabilities.

Neroli Fairhall, Graham Tapper and Rex Fattorini were early medal winners, and their presence here today is an indication of the high regard in which they hold the unit.

Stories about some of the early patients include Graham (Tapper), Ruth Jackson and Sir Tim Wallis – also with us to celebrate this book launch.

The clinical and allied health care given to the patients was exemplary, and the staff included some remarkably talented people like physiotherapist Cos ter Veer and Sister Beth Spiers, both of whom are also in the audience. They were passionate about their patients and this is reflected in their stories.

There is an interesting section in the book about ACC and its introduction. Some people benefitted immediately, but others whose accidents happened before the introductory date did not. Their stories of how they managed are, quite simply, heroic.

They are a strong reminder of two things:
·firstly, the immense value of our ACC scheme; and
·secondly, the continuing inequities between the support given to people with injuries covered by ACC compared to those without ACC cover. These inequities need to be removed.

Part of the book is also devoted to the clinical care given by people like Allan Bean, Angelo Anthony, and more recently Ted Arnold, Alastair Rothwell and Rick Acland.

In 1979 the unit moved to its present site at Burwood hospital, and in April this year, it will celebrate its 25th anniversary in its permanent home. During that time, many hundreds of people have been treated here, and rehabilitated back into their own communities.

The book, as Jean O’Callaghan has written in her foreward, is about courage and determination, and about achievement.

Publishing the book is a great achievement in itself, and owes much to the energy and commitment of Vivienne Allan. I know it has been a labour of love, on top of Vivienne’s full-time job as communications manager for the Christchurch District Health Board.

Finally, I want to congratulate the board for having the foresight to publish this history, providing a lasting legacy of the spinal unit, its vision, and the people involved in it over the years.

And now it is my great pleasure to officially launch ‘A New Way of Living’.