Local News

On Jan. 15, construction began on a new children’s hospital in Island City (Higashi-ku) to replace the current children’s hospital in Tojinmachi (Chuo-ku). The new hospital is slated to be completed by Aug. 2014, and opened by Nov. 2014. After the decision to move the facility was made in May 2011, six official meetings were held to plan the project. The new location is approx. 12km (20 min by car via Urban Expressway) away from the current location in Chuo-ku. There has been criticism regarding moving the hospital so far to the east of Fukuoka. Those living in the west of Fukuoka City have voiced concerns that they will not be able to reach the facility easily. It was also reported that after the Tojinmachi facility closes, remaining medical facilities in the area will be ill-equipped to handle an increased demand of services. Eight out of the nine hospitals in Tojinmachi are not fit to accept new patients, especially after-hours, due to a lack of doctors. The other hospital in the area said they cannot afford to accept new patients. In reply to these concerns, Fukuoka’s Mayor Takashima said Fukuoka City would consider building another children’s hospital near Tojinmachi, or somewhere else in the west. The next meeting will be held in Jan. 2013, and Fukuoka City aims to make a decision by March 2013. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 12/17, http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/339144

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