MEDICAL CENTRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1944, Page 5

MEDICAL CENTRE

“ SYDNEY'S BIG £2,632,000 PLAN. VILLAGE OF HOSPITALS. SYDNEY, December 19. 1 Plans to create a national medical centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, after the war, were outlined by the chairman of the board, Dr. H. H. Schlink, at the annual meeting this week. The plans had been generally approved by the Ministers for Health and for Local Government, the city and county councils, the senate of the university, and the Housing Commission, Dr. Schlink stated. • “It will take at least 20 years to complete the scheme,” he said, “but .now is the time to acquire the necesi sary land and realign the roads at a reasonable cost. The board cannot meet the whole cost of resumption and looks to the Government for help.” The estimated cost of the buildings, equipment, furniture, furnishings, roads, gardens, and grounds was £2,632,000, spread over a period of 20 years in four five-year plans. The first was to cost £BOl,OOO, the second £330,000, the third £199,000, and the fourth £1,299,000. Dr. Schlink said that some might be astounded at the cost, but the services at present rendered to the State by the hospital were estimated at £525,992 a year, and at the end of 20 years would be more than £2,000,000 annually. The centre would be a collection or village of hospitals, not necessarily under the same management. All would be within easy walking distance from the University Medical, School.