Hospital-plan call

Press, 11 August 1977, Page 2

Hospital-plan call

A call for “more aggres-i sive” moves to plan the replacement of Christchurch l Hospital, at an estimated cost of S6OM by 1990, was made yesterday. A meeting of the works committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board heard that the rebuilding programme would be one of the biggest in the country. Committee members urged action on recommendations of the medical development committee.

The medical development committee’s report on the likely devlopment of hospital services in Christchurch by the 1990 s envisages the growth of the hospital to about 1000 beds. So far only the SI2M stage-one clinical services and ward block has been built. The stage-two S3M kitchen block is under construction. No decision has been made to proceed with the building of a maternity block at a cost of SI2M. This block would replace Christchurch Women’s Hospital but is unlikely to pro-

iceed because of site inadequacies. 1 The SI2M stage-four link block between the Christchurch Clinical School and the stage-one building is scheduled for completion in 1986 but no definite planning proposals have been submitted.

The final stage includes two multi-storeyed ward blocks near the present nurses home. These are expected to cost more than SIOM and are due to be completed in the mid-19905. The planning officer of the hospital board (Mr L.

Hayward) said that more aggressive moves were needed in planning the building. Priorities outlined by the medical development committee had to be considered, including a recommendation that a “project doctor” oversee future development related to the medical philosophy prepared by the committee. “This work will be one of the largest jobs undertaken in New Zealand and we would like to feel we are doing aggressive planning. At present we are not,” said Mr Hayward.