Christchurch Hospital

I would love to be able to use the 'smoke filled rooms' metaphor to describe the intense effort being put in by planning officers and the out of normal hours working associated with the latest plans for the Christchurch Hospital, just to describe how serious this matter is being taken by CBC. As it is the new plans are now being assessed at a special planning meeting called for the 14th March. Yesterday at our surgery I was asked by a very concerned resident what the CBC direction is in respect of this issue and I was able again to restate my opinion which I have now included in this blog a number of times. We are anxious that Christchurch Hospital stays as a high quality medical facility in name and being that meets the needs of Christchurch residents. The new Health and Wellbeing Board, which includes a democratic imperative should in partnership with the Hospital management decide clinical objectives and provide a service which meets residents needs. How the land asset is used by the hospital management has to reflect this objective because of the hearts and mind issue of not having a medical facility in Christchurch is unacceptable to just about everyone I have spoken to or who have raised this issue with me. Equally if redevelopment is the route to deliver this then the architecture and design of the new build should reflect sensitivity of the site as a gateway to Christchurch and enhance the area for residents living close by. I do not think this is too much to ask for, design I know is a subjective issue resulting in high debate in architectural and lay-man circles, and this is the dilemma faced by our members on the planning committee. That they have strived to ensure that Christchurch gets the best facilities and the best design should be commended.