Planning of an X‐ray Department

SummaryGreen Lane Hospital is one of the five large hospitals forming the Auckland group of teaching hospitals, associated with the Department of Medicine of the University of Auckland. It serves a population of 660,000. The present X‐ray department was opened in 1970 and the procedure followed in its planning and the principles followed are described. It was planned for an estimated work load of approximately 67,000 examinations by 1968, with an expected 10% increase per annum for the decade following. This total was reached in 1970 and is now approaching 90,000 examinations which includes approximately 15,000 from general practitioners.The department has been able to deal satisfactorily with this work load and could take many more if not limited by a shortage of staff. There has been some shortage of space for typing services which has been temporarily overcome by some reorganisation. Further space for this and three more diagnostic X‐ray rooms have been allowed for in the future Stage III building.The need for generous provision of facilities for viewing and reporting X‐rays and for conferences has been emphasised.The basic concept of a good work flow with minimal cross‐traffic