The Main Ward Block in 1993

1993 was 18 years since the first usage of the Main Ward Block. Planning approval for the new Norfolk & Norwich Hospital at Colney, just outside Norwich was approved but construction was a long way off. A German poet stayed on the 8th floor of the Main Block this year.

1993 was quite an eventful year for the almost 20 year old Main Ward Block apart from it's usual usage as a hospital building with 600 or so patients being treated in the complex at any given time. The MWB was visited by inspectors in the summer and by The Secretary Of State Of Health, Virginia Bottomley in December.

Events relating to the building in 1993

 * In January 1993, the N&N reached a crisis and had a £1 million overdraft. The plan to build a new hospital was still ongoing but they did plan to keep the current site for medical use.
 * In February 1993 several wheelchairs were stolen from the hospital, one was even found in Great Yarmouth. Security was stepped up.
 * In the summer of 1993, the N&N Hospital was visited by inspectors. They commented on the long waiting lists of patients and the fact the Main Ward Block, while it was to remain in use for years to come, was not very suitable for hospital usage due to the unreliable lifts and the incident of a window falling out onto the engineering area.
 * In December 1993, Virginia Bottomley, the then Secretary Of State Of Health visited the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and remarked on the 19 year old Main Ward Block being pushed beyond its design limits, the unreliable lifts and that a move to a new hospital was suitable. Many nurses and doctors were in favour of a move. The Main Ward Block was to remain in use for several years to come though, and was 10 years away from demolition.
 * Sometime during 1993 an Outline Business Case was put forward for the new hospital at Colney with over 1090 beds. The case was rejected due to the hospital being too big. However the plans to build a slightly smaller new hospital was still ongoing. Day surgery and advances in medicine lead to the decision to build a hospital with only about 900 beds.

Prev year in existence - The Main Ward Block in 1992

Next year in existence - The Main Ward Block in 1994