Hospital approval

Press, 20 July 1984, Page 1

Hospital approval

Parliamentary reporter The Canterbury Hospital Board has been given approval to call tenders for phase A of the main building in the stage HI project at Christchurch Hospital. Announcing the approval yesterday, the Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm, said he was pleased with steady progress in the stage 111 project and with efficient planning which had reduced the estimated cost to about $B5 million. The main building will consist of five storeys, containing six wards or 180

beds in all. It will also house six operating theatres, accident and emergency unit, anaesthetic, general surgery, orthopaedic and social work departments, a critical-care unit, admitting facilities, post-mortem suite, medical records, and medical and nursing administration offices. The tender which will now be called will cover foundations and services contracts for the main building. The announcement was welcomed by the board’s

chief executive, Mr Ron Parker. The application had been before the Government for some time and the board had expected approval several weeks ago, but this had been delayed by the election, said Mr Parker last evening. The approval will be formally put before the board on Wednesday and he expected tenders would be called straight after that. The board had’ estimated that work on the foundations would begin in October.