Board told to ‘get its act together’

Press, 19 July 1983, Page 9

Board told to ‘get its act together’

The North Canterbury Hospital Board has to “get its act together” on plans to improve Christchurch Women’s Hospital, said a board member yesterday. Mr T. M. McGuigan told the board’s works committee that otherwise it was leaving itself open to the same criticisms that it levelled at the Government over planning delays. He was criticising a recent plan proposed by hospital staff for new buildings and the buying of more land. The board expects its projects team to finish a draft redevelopment plan for the hospital next month. Planners had been told to look only at improving existing buildings for the next 15 to 20 years that Christchurch Women’s Hospital is meant to stay on its Cdlombo Street site.

“What has the projects

team been doing for the last two years?” Mr McGuigan said. "We now have what seems a completely new plan at this late stage.” He wanted an assurance that the team draft plan would be presented in six weeks time, as promised. The board’s medical superintendent-in-chief, Dr R. A. Fairgray, said that obstetric and gynaecology staff had looked at their needs when questions were raised about a second hospital ultrasound scanner and the use of proceeds from the sale of Essex maternity hospital. Those ideas had been passed on .to the projects team. The board’s chief executive officer, Mr R. I. Parker, said the latest suggestions had not prejudiced existing plans. Instead, cost estimates for the staff plan could be worked out in time for consideration with the draft planning report.