Building Completed At Waitakere Hospital

MEDIA RELEASE
13 OCTOBER 2004

Building Completed At Waitakere Hospital

The four-year $60 million redevelopment of Waitakere Hospital is all but complete, with just the finishing touches being put on buildings, and services moving in to their final homes.

The Outpatients Department is the latest service to move into a new space which, at 3000sq m, is nearly four times the size of its previous space.

It will initially use a small part of the area, operating its current services and clinics, until additional and expanded services come on board on February 1, 2005 – the date the redeveloped hospital opens.

When it fully opens in February the Outpatients Department will expand from providing the current 28 clinical care rooms to 53. The expansion will include a fracture clinic for treating broken bones, more surgical and medical clinics, orthopaedic clinics, an echo-cardiogram service and a Medical Day Stay area incorporating a blood transfusion service.

Outpatients manager Laurette Powell says the expansion is required to support the other services that will open next February. Further increases in services will occur from July 2005.

“It will mean fewer West Aucklanders will have to travel to North Shore Hospital for Outpatient appointments and follow-up care after an inpatient stay.”

Hospital operations manager Sheila Davidson says it is fantastic to have “practical completion”, with the focus now shifting to outfitting departments with equipment, and recruiting staff.

“Even though the building phase is completed we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”

The Outpatients Department started moving to its new home on Friday October 8, and has re-opened for business today [Wednesday October 13].

Patients can access the department through entrance C, the hospital’s main entrance.

ENDS

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