COST OF NEW HOSPITALS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 3

COST OF NEW HOSPITALS

ARCHITECTS’ PLANS FOR REDUCTION

evidence at inquiry (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. lnstitute of ™i♦ Jt ects ’ m evidence to the Consultative Committee on Hospial Relorm, this morning gave what it considers important requirements to cut production costs in hospital building programmes. These were: A clearly-defined development policy, co-ordination of the information necessary for the building programme, and an adherence to the policy once defined. .These conditions would lead also to better building and faster construction, it was claimed. “An indecisive policy or a policy which is the subject of constant change by an indecisive board will produce nothing but confusion, with frustrating delays and an unsatisfactory conclusion*’ said the chairman of the hospital group of the institute (Mr W. J. McKeon) presenting the submissions. He deplored the tendency for too' many people to issue instructions to engaged to plan hospital buildings. In approaching a building problem or scheme of development a hospital board, must endeavour to define a clear-cut medical policy with a survey of the district’s needs of existing facilities, and of future requirements on a 10, 15, or 20 year porgramme. “Frequently,” said Mr McKeon, “a board cannot conclusively make up. its mind without a period of disastrous trial and error.”

He advocated greater assistance with statistical knowledge from the Health Department and a co-ordinating officer to assemble the requirements. The architect should then be given the necessary freedom to carry out the work in accordance with the final policy decision.