COBALT UNIT DAMAGED

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 3

COBALT UNIT DAMAGED

Discovery On Arrival At Hospital

REPORTED MISHAP AT LYTTELTON

A mechanical component of the Christchurch Public Hospital's new tclecobalt unit was found to be damaged when it reached the hospital yesterday. The damage is believed to have occurred on the wharf at Lyttelton.

A ouick assessment of the extent of the damage was made by hospital staff yesterday afternoon and it is hoped that repair work will not delay the installation of the unit.

Given by Sir Arthur Sims to enable the hospital to provide the latest type of cancer therapy, the unit was unloaded from the City of Birkenhead yesterday morning and transported over the hill to the hospital. The complete unit was in six cases, weighing altogether 10 to 12 tons. The assistant radiotherapist at the hospital (Dr. A. M Goldstein) said last evening that the damage was immediatelv apparent when the unit reached the hospital at midday.

The damage was in one of the cases containing a major mechanical component of the apparatus. Dr. Goldstein said. He understood the damace had occurred on the wharf at Lyttelton. Mr A. Wilson, hospital engineer, and his department had spent the afternoon trying to assess the amount of damage. “We hope, subject to the damage being no more extensive than at present aopears. that the replacement or repair work will not delay lhe installation of the unit,” Dr. Goldstein said.

“The damage will be covered by insurance. and replacement parts can be flown out from Canada if necessary,” he said.

A cablegram reporting the mishap has sent by the North Canterbury Hospital Board to the manufacturers. Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd.

The installation work is scheduled to begin on December 3. on the arrival of an engineer from the manufacturing firm, who will supervise the job.