The CITY theme has a bunch of re-release sub-themes every year. The Fire and Police sub-themes always seem to re-appear. Well the Hospital sub-theme (or is it medical?) is one theme that is not often repeated. The last version came out in 2007. It was #7892-1 and I actually have it. It’s not that great of a set, but I do like the sub-theme. Since then there have been a few other themes that have had hospitals to include Duplo and Friends. Thankfully it returned to CITY and on 2 June 2018, #60204-1 was released in the US. It retails for $99.99 and contains 861 pieces and 13 minifigures. At that price it is $0.116 per piece which is a bit high in my opinion. It does have some large pieces which drives up the cost of plastic and there is a light brick which adds onto the price as well. Onto the review…
The box is pretty big with the front showing the full set and the back showing some of the play features like usual. My container got a bit banged up on the way to my house, but I can’t complain. It was packaged well… just had a lot of opportunities to get beat up on the way to Germany.
The contents include 9 parts bags, 5 8x16 light gray plates, the instruction books, and a sticker sheet. The instructions and stickers were in a separate bag. While it is extra packaging, I like that they are protected versus some of the cheaper sets where they get all folded up and jammed into the box during packaging. I was especially thankful given the damage the outer box received on the way to my house. At least the instructions and stickers didn’t take the brunt of any of it.
There are a bunch of stickers… 26 numbered in total to include some that have more than one per instruction number. There are quite a few, but in my opinion, they add to the detail of the set so I made sure to place them all.
There are 6 instruction books. One is for the helicopter and some minifigures. One is for the ambulance. Four of them are for the hospital structure itself. The picture on the outside matches what the build is as well.
The first bag includes a helicopter, helicopter pad, and 5 minifigures (4 full size and one baby. The minifigures are a man with flowers, a woman, a baby with a stroller, a figure who we assume is a painter or some sort of handyman who has a cast on his arm, and the helicopter pilot. There is also a wheelchair that can be used for the man who broke his arm I guess. Not a bad selection of figures to start. As for the helicopter, I am not a fan of CITY helicopters in general. If you’re going to do one right, it needs to be larger with a bit more detail. This one has a purpose of carrying a small container of important medicine or something in a bulky container that sits on one of the landing skids. Really? The main rotor is pretty unrealistic as well given that it’s just 2 1x8 plates. I’m sure it has to do with kids enjoying playing with helicopters built out of LEGO bricks and not at all for AFOLs who want details on all sets to include those designed for kids.
Bag 2 starts off the ambulance build. It builds the frame and then the hood, doors, and some of the outer walls. It also includes a stretcher, a female EMT/driver, and what appears to be a miner who comes with hair, a helmet, and a bandage to put over his head. I guess he forget to wear the helmet so he has to wear the bandage due to his injury.
The third bag completes the ambulance. It’s not a bad design. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but I think it looks a bit more realistic versus what some past versions have looked like. The only design change I would make would be to have 2 doors that open out versus one door that swings up. In terms of the play factor, I think this one is missing some EMT equipment. Maybe a few small bags of equipment or something for the EMT to use when going on a call. Could also be something to design later with your own parts.
Bag 4 starts to build the hospital itself. The first floor includes a sliding glass door, a very small snack shop with a newspaper and LEGO set, a single seat waiting area, and what will end up as the Emergency Room entrance. I understand it is a CITY set meant for 6 to 12 year old kids, so instead of criticizing LEGO for poor design, I’m going to see it as an opportunity to make improvements. I see opportunity to add some floor tiles for decoration, expand the gift/snack shop, provide a true waiting area, and maybe even an information/check in desk.
This bag also includes 2 female medical personnel. They both have glasses on and blue scrubs for pants.
The fifth bag completes the first floor. This includes the roof, the ambulance/Emergency Room entrance, a cart for the ER with some equipment, and a computer built into the wall. There’s a lot of potential here for expansion to include a built up ER with beds, monitors and medical equipment, a nurses station, a door for the ER entrance, maybe a covered entrance for the ambulance… lots of possibilities, not a lot of time.
Bag six starts work on the second floor with an optometry section. There the… I don’t know what it is called… the optometrist gives you different lenses and always asks “1 or 2?” There is also a computer scan or some sorts and 2 eye charts. The charts are a kid version and then the adult version with letters. The adult eye chart cleverly reads “if you can read this, you have good vision.” I would have added in a chair for the patient to sit in versus the little lime green tile with studs on the floor for the minifigure to stand on.
The seventh bag completes a lab of sorts for the second floor and the doctor or technician who works there. There is a microscope, a skeleton, a syringe, and then an x-ray viewer. The viewer isn’t super great, but it isn’t bad for a CITY set. There’s a red brick light that is set up on some pieces. You then have 3 stickered windows that you can slide in front to project the image on the wall. The one I show is of a broken minifigure arm. There is also one of a broken minifigure rib and one of a minifigure who swallowed a LEGO cherry whole. This section attaches to the second floor right next to the optometry section. It is oddly placed, but I think some work on the second floor on top of a re-designed first floor could provide much better detail.
The eighth bag starts the third and final floor. This section is the Labor and Delivery section of the hospital. Bag 8 includes the start of the floor, and another medical staff minifigure, and a bassinet for the baby. The bassinet includes a baby bottle and at the end it has a picture and some sort of label scribbled on it.
The last bag (#9) is the final bag and finishes up Labor and Delivery. It includes a delivery bed, a monitor of sorts, and a red and blue… I’m not sure what they are. Some sort of monitor attachment maybe. There is also a light attached to the ceiling. My favorite detail on the inside is actually the sticker on the wall. The fish design is fun and makes the room look very kid friendly (although that’s not what you are thinking when the kid is being born).
Here are the minifigures. In my opinion, they help to make the set a bit more worth buying. Besides the sheer number, you get a good collection of city figures, another baby minifigure, the 4 medical staff members, and 2 EMTs.
Here are the front and back of the building. It’s designed for play versus display or detail so in my opinion it’s lacking in some detail. The third floor only takes up part of the floor versus the second floor. There could have been some different choices in they types of clinics available. Or maybe they could have built some patient rooms? Or maybe we just need to expand it on our own?
Overall, not a bad set. A bit pricey, but considering the number of minifigures and the length of time between hospital set releases in the CITY sub-theme, it might be worth it. Wait for double VIP points or a good free offer set before you get it from LEGO Shop @ Home. Or maybe Amazon.com, Walmart, or Target will have a sale?
If anyone has modified it or put additions onto the set, let me know. I’ll be happy to post your versions for people to see how you spruced it up.
In the meantime, happy building!
