Letter to the Editor 1994 – Put ring around Hastings

Put ring around Hastings

Mr Editor. – The hospital argument again creates confusion and dissent. There are two distinct aspects.

1.   Should we settle for one really top-class hospital or settle for two fragmented hospitals?

2.   If we settle for one top hospital, where should it be located?

Assuming we settle for one top hospital then it is surely a question of the greatest access convenience for the greatest number of people (democracy)?

It may be of interest to study the map (above) with a compass extended from Napier hospital to Hastings hospital; the point then placed on each hospital in turn and a circle drawn from each.

The result within each circle is. –

Napier circle:
About 50 per cent of the area contains fish
About 25 per cent of the area is lightly populated rural
It excludes 60 per cent of Hastings
It excludes 90 per cent of Flaxmere
It excludes 100 per cent of Havelock North
It excludes a heavily populated rural area

Hastings circle:
About 10 per cent of the area contains fish
About 90 per cent of the area is heavily populated
It excludes Ahuriri
It excludes Westshore
It excludes the northern lightly populated rural area

Are these factors worth considering?

Havelock North   Frank Darroch