NEW HOSPITAL PLANS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23405, 12 August 1941, Page 8

NEW HOSPITAL PLANS

♦ HISTORY TOLD IN REPORTS * ..» f • BOARD’S CHANGES OF POLICY

[Thisr article is the second of a series on hospital administration specially written for “The Press."]

Reports of meetings of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, for several years, show how frequently policy has, been changed. It is possible to go back to the immediate post-war years and find that either the board as a whole or individual members recognised the need either to build a new hospital in Christchurch or to reorganise the present general hospital. But in more than 20 years there has been no material progress. For instance, there is still in use as a general ward at the Christchurch Public Hospital a temporary iron-sheeting building, put up as an emergency ward for soldiers after the last war. It was considered cut-of-date soon after it was erected. The following is a summary, taken from newspaper reports, over the last four 6r five years, of the history of plans for a new hospital. April, 1937—The superintendent, Dr. A. D. Nelson, emphasised the need for more beds and a report containing tentative suggestions for a subsidiary hospital, to be followed by extensions to the main hospital, was adopted. / May, 1937—At the end of May, it was decided to build a new subsidiary hospital and to add two or three new storeys to the existing nurses’ home, attached to the general hospital. No estimate or plans were put forward, but the proposals were approved, and, it was said, "A start will be made at once with more definite preparations.” Ma& 1937—The chairman of the finance committee of the board, Mr L. B. Evans, mentioned proposals to remodel the public hospital completely within the next eight or 10 years. The cost was to be about- £200,000 or £300,000. Extensions were needed at once, he said, and the building of the subsidiary hospital would give the board time to consider the' bigger project. Mr J. K. Archer doubted whether it was wise to “potter about with subsidiary institutions.” He suggested plans be prepared for a thoroughly up-to-date institution to be [ built on the site of the present one. Dr. P. Stanley Foster agreed with Mr Archer. Strain on Hospital August 26, 1937—1t was reported that | Dr. Nelson had considered that. 360 was a reasonable number of patients to accommodate and that 400 was too great a strain on the hospital and staff. The average number of patients was then 420. February 24, 1938—1t was reported that the board, subject to the approval of the Health Department, had decided to'•buy between 15 and 17 acres of land at Cashmere for the subsidiary hospital. March 23. 1938—1t was decided to call for competitive plans for the new subsidiary hospital. July 28. 1938—The board had now decided to seek professional advice on the proposals for the subsidiary. March 23, 1939—A. report mentioned plans for hospital expansion and a sixyear programme was outlined. April 1, 1939—1t was reported that the plans for the subsidiary hospital had arrived in the city.

April 17. 1939—A. design for the new subsidiary was chosen. April 27, 1939—1t was reported that the designs for the new subsidiary were to be altered. June 1, 1939—The need to reorganise was reported to be so great that it was decided to place the building plans before interested local authorities.

June 20,1939 —It was stated that space at the general hospital was overtaxed and that there was room for 30 more patients only. Heavy building expenditure would have to be faced.

Hospital Overcrowded August 24, 1939—The general hospital was reported to be overcrowded. March, 1940—1t was reported that the board had decided to go on and build the subsidiary hospital at Cashmere. March 19, 1940—1t was reported from the meeting of the board that the new subsidiary would probably not be begun until the following year. April 20, 1940—Additional land was said to be required for extensions to the general hospital. May 25. 1940—More beds for soldiers had become necessary. May 23, 1940—1t was reported that big extensions to the existing hospital facilities would be necessary to cope with war emergencies. June 19, 1940—Sanatorium to be built at Cashmere for soldiers. June 8, 1940—One hundred beds to be made available for soldiers. June 8, 1940 —Proposal for subsidiary hospital abandoned. October 18, 1940—Appointment of architect for the hospital. October 12,'1940 —Decision to build new military hospital at Bur^ood. Committee’s Work While these important considerations were (resolved, the North Canterbury Hospital Board made a decision which has since, as the records and as official statements show, strongly affected the recent administration of the hospital. This was the appointment of an emergency committee, often called together since to deliberate changes of policy called for by the war emergency. This committee has provided an interesting lesson in local body administration. It was felt that the whole board, with its 22 members, was far too unwieldly to be called together at short notice. The smaller committee was formed, consisting of the chairman, the chairman of the finance committee, the superintendent, the secretary, and a few other members, selected at a full meeting of the board. This committee has made very important decisions, passed those decisions on to the board, and seen all its major ' recommendations apr proved. It is claimed that the committee has virtually taken over the control of the board’s policy, and that the experiment has worked well, speeding up the planning of the building programme, assisting the staff in its work, and guiding the board. That is the view of high hosptal authorities.

It remains to summarise the latest developments. The subsidiary hospital plan has certainly been abandoned. An up-to-date new hospital to accommodate soldiers has been built at Burwood and apparently it Is now the board’s policy to send Its chronic cases out to Burwood as well. The site for the new general hospital laundry, on a section well away.from the hospital, is being cleared, and nlans to put up a new isolation ward at the general hospital are being completed. But that is the sum total of the progress made by successive board* towards the achievement of an entirely new hospital, often advocated, but obstructed by what most authorities consider to have been a sad lack of initiative and foresight. The war has intervened to prevent, possibly for another five or six years, any plan for the erection of the now hospital the city so badly needs. (To be continued.)