Hospital commissions back of house

Media release 31 July 2003

Hospital commissions back of house

A small but significant step in the development of Waitakere Hospital is due to occur this week – the commissioning of the hospital’s back of house area.

Comprising inward goods, mortuary, stores, clean and dirty docks, mailroom, house keeping, staff locker rooms and the linen/uniform room, it is the first area of the new hospital redevelopment to be opened.

Hospital development leader Kay Hogan says it is the start of a staged process that will see various areas of the new hospital opened over the next 16 months from now until November 2004.

“The commissioning of the back of house area is a significant milestone for the hospital development. It is not only the culmination of three years of planning, but is the start of what will eventually become a new sub district general hospital for the communities of Waitakere and West Rodney - it’s an incredibly exciting time.

“The area is also important because it is one of the main arteries of the hospital. All our equipment, supplies, medications, linen, mail and food are delivered through inward goods. Conversely, it is the area where dirty linen and waste is taken out.”

Redevelopment programme director Garth Whittaker stressed that there is still much work to be done, but everything was still on time and budget.

“The next area to be completed is the new hospital kitchen in September followed by the entire new extension, also in September. Work will then start in October on refurbishing the existing hospital block, including construction of a child health unit and a special care baby unit.”

Trucks are due to start making deliveries to the new back of house area from Friday (subs: Aug 1st).

The entire hospital redevelopment programme will be finished in November 2004 when many of the hospital’s new acute services open.

Ends

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