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Easier Access, More Parking at Hospital
Media information
For immediate release
Date: 5 March 2008
Easier Access, More Parking at Hospital
Stage
one of Waikato Hospital's $252 million redevelopment is
complete with the new main entrance and carpark building now
open for use.
Visitors coming to the hospital can now enter through the new Gate 1 entrance off Pembroke St by the blood centre and follow the road to the car park building.
The new 18-level building can hold more than 800 vehicles and provides direct lift access to the hospital's red corridor, main hospital buildings and Transit Lounge.
Waikato DHB Service and Campus Redevelopment project director Ian Wolstencroft said the changes would make visiting the hospital a much simpler experience.
"Getting a park and finding your way to where you need to go should be a lot easier now.
"We've also updated our signage and have volunteers on hand to help visitors find where they need to go," he said.
The road from Pembroke St to the carpark building has been significantly upgraded and widened ready for when Hamilton city buses travel through the campus from July.
The completion of stage one makes way for the construction of a new emergency department (ED), the next stage of the project.
The new ED will be located outside the old main entrance and requires a large area to be blocked off as a construction site. The existing carpark will be closed off from next Monday (March 10).
The vehicle entrance and drop off point outside the Wairoa Building will close the following week on March 17.
Pedestrian access to the building and ED would remain and a new short-term drop-off parking area would also be provided but all visitors to the hospital will be required to enter the grounds through the new Gate 1 Pembroke St entrance and park in the new carpark building.
The Selwyn St entrance will also close later this month so the road can be upgraded and widened.
Mr Wolstencroft said it was vital that the carpark building and new road were finished before these closures.
"We appreciate that these are significant changes to get accustomed to; the main entrance to Waikato Hospital has been at the top of the hill since the late 1800s and now we're effectively turning the campus around.
"The best advice we can give anyone visiting the hospital is to take the new Pembroke St entrance and follow the signs to the carpark building," he said.
The redevelopment is part of Waikato District Health Board's $252 million service and campus development project at Thames and Waikato hospitals.
For more information about the projects visit www.waikatodhb.govt.nz.
ENDS
Note: An aerial photograph of the Waikato Hospital campus is available.
An official opening for the carpark, entry and Transit Lounge buildings will be held in July when all roading upgrades are complete.
Contact:
Ashleigh Peek
Communications
Consultant
Waikato District Health Board
Ph: 07 839
8899 ext 23395
Fax: 07 834 3673
Mobile: 021 359 315
PeekAs@waikatodhb.govt.nz
www.waikatodhb.govt.nz
About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 342,650 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $915 million and employs more than 5300 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB's main provider of hospital and health services with an annual budget of $530 million and 4500 staff. It has seven divisions across five hospital sites, two maternity and continuing care hospitals, a mental health facility and 21 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
Other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories - are delivered by a wide range of independent providers.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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