Approval given for hospital plans

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 1

Approval given for hospital plans

The planned oncology and pathology blocks to be built as part of the redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital came a step closer yesterday.

The Minister of Health, Dr Michael Bassett, authorised the Canterbury Hospital Board to prepare developed sketch plans, design reports and assessments of cost for the new facilities, estimated to cost $16.9 million. Approval of the new facilities has delighted the Hospital Board chairman, Mr Tom Grigg. The negotiations with the Government about the new buildings as part of the over-all development plan were completed some months ago and the board had been “waiting to see” if they would be approved. Mr Grigg said the new buildings would provide greatly improved facilities

for the two departments. The new pathology block will be built on the land bounded by St Asaph Street, Tuam Street and Hagley Avenue.

The building, at a total estimated cost of $11,034,800, will consist of three linked blocks. The three-storey north and south blocks will house laboratory spaces, linked to a central block containing support services and which includes the plant room on a fourth floor.

The building on the manse site will be linked with the main site by an improved tunnel access. Mr Grigg said that all of the houses along Hagley Avenue between Tuam Street and St Asaph Street, owned by the Hospital Board, would be demolished to make a car-park. The board has just bought land from the Ministry of Works opposite the dental block in St Asaph Street for a 180-space car-park. The oncology block, also to be constructed of reinforced concrete, will be on the main hospital site. The two-storey building will cost an estimated $5,895,400. The treatment floor, housing superficial therapy and megavoltage equipment with its associated heavy radiation shielding, will be on the lower ground level.

The ground floor will contain consultative and treatment facilities and administration areas.

The Minister’s authorisation for further design work was announced yesterday in a joint statement by the Christchurch members of Parliament, Mr Geoffrey Palmer (Christchurch Central), Mr Mike Moore (Christchurch North), Mr David Caygill (St Albans), Mrs Ann Hercus (Lyttelton), Mrs Mary Batchelor (Avon), Mr Jim Anderton (Sydenham), and Mrs Margaret Austin (Yaldhurst). The buildings would prove an enormous asset to the people of Christchurch, they said. The oncology and pathology blocks are part of the over-all redevelopment of the hospital site, set for completion by 1991. A $4.45 million contract for the foundations of the new main hospital building was signed last year and work has begun. The foundations are the first part of the three-stage development plan. The whole project will cost about $B5 million.