Hospital board plans for year outlined

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32542, 27 February 1971, Page 15

Hospital board plans for year outlined

Tenders for a computer to control the recording of results tests and reports in the Pathology department of Christchurch Hospital were being examined by the North Canterbury Hospital Board, the chairman (Dr L. C. L. Averill) said in a report on the board’s programme for this year. The estimated initial cost of the computer would be between $70,000 and $BO,OOO and would be a major step into the field of computer applications for hospital purposes, said Dr Averill. The computer would involve the introduction of mechanical equipment into procedures for the admisssion of patients and would bring numerous changes in procedures, said Dr Averill. Important buildings which would be handed over and commissioned during the year included a ward for 20 elderly patients at Burwood, a nurses’ dining-room and kitchen at Burwood, two new wards and a new occupational therapy department at Princess Margaret Hospital. It was hoped that an early start would be made by the contractors on the new ward block and clinical services building at Christchurch Hospital, said Dr Averill. Alterations to the main hospital corridor and to the entrances of Ward 4, the

X-ray department and the pharmacy to allow for the foundations of the medical centre would begin within the next few weeks, said Dr Averill. The work in the main corridor would regrettably cause considerable inconvenience to patients, staff and visitors.

Planning for the integration of mental hospitals had been proceeding normally with a view to the change being made on April 1, but necessary legislation had been introduced late and referred to a committee. Depending on the findings of this committee integration might take place on October I or April 1 next year. In any case, excellent working relationships had been established with the departmental heads of Sunnyside and Templeton hospitals and much of the planning of integration had been completed, said Dr Averill.