Health Minister Annette King has defended the pending closure of residential alcohol and drug services at Hanmer Springs in Canterbury.
She told Labour's conference the need for a service "far away in the bush somewhere" was low and patients eventually had to return to communities to live.
One delegate whose son had died of a drug overdose pleaded for the party to save Queen Mary Hospital, saying it had helped his son to live an extra two years.
Health Minister firm about Hanmer closure
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