«La Fe» Social Security Hospital, Valencia

Abstract

This large hospital was built In a notably short time, and all the construction stages were completed in accord with a precise time schedule. The hospital overcomes in a highly effective manner the urgent need for many medical facilities which were lacking in the Valencia province. The planning of this medical centre incorporates the experience gained in designing similar centres in other parts of the country: it includes every type of technical advance, involving materials and installations, which, year by year, are being rapidly Improved and developed. In the initial design requirements, much emphasis has been given to three basic premisses: functionality, research and training facilities. The full program for the hospital, which includes 1,100 beds, comprises seven well differentiated zones: the general hospital; rehabilitation centre; maternity hospital; children's hospital; nurses school; central laboratories for research and experimental surgery; and general services (heating plant, washing department. Incineration, mortuory, etc.). The standard hospital room has been most carefully planned, aiming to achieve maximum adaptability, minimum cost, most comfort, optimum circulation facility for the nurses, and least intermixing of various types of patients. The rooms to be attended by the same nucleus of general services have been rationally grouped together. Three subsequent issues of «INFORMES DE LA CONSTRUCCIÓN» will describe in considerable detail this important project, which exemplifies the huge effort by the Spanish Health Service to reach the forefront of the world In state hospital facilities.