Review of Hagley site?

Press, 15 July 1983, Page 1

Review of Hagley site?

Government cost-cutting proposals for the stage three redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital could mean reviewing its whole layout, said the chief executive officer of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, Mr R. I. Parker, yesterday. The Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm, has released paft of a Government investigative committee report which recommends combining new pathology and oncology blocks in one building on the main hospital site. Christchurch City Council approval is needed to swap part of the hospital grounds for a small portion of Hagley Park that would allow the resiting of the pathology block from its planned position on the Manse site across the road from the main hospital. Mr Parker said further delays were inevitable, although the board could only speculate until it saw the full committee report. “We would have to review the design of the main building as well if we did change the physical location of pathology,” he said. Traffic flows were one factor that would need rethinking. The suggested change would mean redesigning both the pathology and oncology blocks.- The height of a new combined block- was another question — restrictions had been placed on building heights when the initial planning was done. The acting chairman of the board, Mr C. F. Whitty, said there would be little delay if the board was able to start work on the main building foundations. He had understood from the Minister that little alteration was needed to the main building plans and work could start on the foundations while the oncology-pathology block was redesigned. However, there would be a “terrific” number of delays if much replanning was needed, Mr Whitty said.