NEW HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 8

NEW HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Preparation Of Plans The working drawings now being prepared for the maternity unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital should be ready in about two months, said Mr L. A. Bennett, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s works committee, at a meeting of the board yesterday. "The number. of babies born in institutions under the board’s control is going up every year. The unit will certainly be heeecssary bv the time it is ready for commissioning.” commented the board’s chairman (Dr. L. C. L. Averill ), The staff social and amenities committee at the Princess Margaret Hospital had collected £ll5O towards the cost of a staff swimming pooh and hoped to have £2OOO by the end of the year, said Mrs J. E. Mackay. Mr J. B. Hay asked for some date to be fixed when work would be started. Dr. Averill said this was not possible, as the plans had not yet been sent to the Health Department for approval. They were due to go next week, however, and he hoped it might soon be possible to fix a date. Means would have to be found to fill the gap between the £2OOO which the committee hoped to collect this year and the £3OOO which the pool was estimated to cost Suggestions of possible sites for the new chapel at the Princess Margaret Hospital had been sent to the board’s architect for consideration, said Mr Bennett. There were difficulties about Mil the suggestions. and although he was confident that these would be overcome, he appealed to all concerned to snow patience and not prejudge the situation or try to bring pressure on the board to adept one or other particular scheme. "The essence of a chapel to that it should have happy associations, and this cannot happen in the midst of bickering," Mr Bennett said.