Hospital parking discussed

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32849, 24 February 1972, Page 14

Hospital parking discussed

Parking at Christchurch Hospital was discussed by the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday, several members expressing approval of the concept of a parking building.

The matter arose from a works committee report which said that the Hospital Boards’ Association was considering initiating legislation to enable hospital boards to charge for parking in hospital grounds. The chairman (Dr L. C. Averill) said that a North Island board was anxious to install parking meters in its grounds. At present boards were not allowed to spend money on parking buildings but pressure was being applied to allow them to do this. The question of parking meters was just a small off-shoot of the whole matter of parking. Dr Averill said that the parking area on the north side of the hospital was already fully committed. The Presbyterian manse site would be the area for a park-

ing building "if and when we get authority.” The chairman of the works committee (Mr L. A. Bennett) said a survey made by another board established that at least one car park was needed for every patient the hospital could hold. For the National Women’s Hospital at Green Lane Auckland, this would mean an area of 50 acres if a flat park was used. There was no doubt that a parking building was the answer, said Mr Bennett. He said it should be commercially run and he was not in favour of it being on the hospital land. Mrs L. E. Macfarlane advocated educating the public to make greater use of public transport. Mrs M. McG. Clark said she was pleased to hear what Dr Averill had said about the problem but she was completely opposed to the opening of Hagley Park for parking. Dr Averill said there had been several letters in the newspapers recently about parking in park land. “There is no question whatsoever of doing this,"

paid Dr Averill. “The only consideration has been given to the grass verge already in use in Rlccarton Avenue.” If it could be sealed it would provide space for a tremendous number of vehicles.

The fire protection officer submitted a detailed report on the fire alarm system at Christchurch Hospital after complaints that the alarm bells were not loud enough nor continuous enough to be Croperly heard by all memers of the staff.

The works committee approved in principle his recommendations to modify the alarm procedure to have the bells ringing continuously until reset by the fire brigade.

At a later date it was intended to remove the bells from the ward areas and replace them with flashing lights. Bells would remain in non-patient areas. The matter would be further discussed by all concerned. Building progress.—The works committee reported good progress on the building of the new wards and clinical services block with work being ahead of schedule in most respects. Bequests made. —The board was told that it had been left $5OO from the estate of Mrs N. Stanley, to be used for research purposes in the haematology department. A cheque for $1315 was received as the board’s share of the estate of Mr A. H. Anthony. Chapel fund. —The Friends of the Princess Margaret Hospital advised the board that they would give anothet $5OO towards the cost of the carpet in the new chapel at the hospital. Burwood pool.—The board approved in principle the staff of Burwood Hospital organising fund-raising schemes and inviting contributions for a filtration plant in the swimming pool at the hospital. A gift of $5OO had been received from the Christchurch North Rotary Club for the plant, estimated to cost $l2OO. Spinal injury unit.—The Department of Health has authorised the board to prepare sketch plans for the

spinal injuries recovery unit at Burwood Hospital. The commissioned architects, Messrs Thorpe. Cutter, Pickmere and Douglas had been advised accordingly.