Rest Stop Seating On Long Hospital Corridors

Wednesday, 23 July 2008, 12:03 am
Press Release: Waikato District Health Board

Media information
For immediate release

Date: 23 July 2008

Red seats have been installed on Waikato Hospital's main corridors to provide a much needed rest stop area for visitors.

The seats are the latest addition to the services available for patients or visitors who are finding the long walking distances difficult.

A wheelchair capable bus was added to the hospital's existing shuttle service earlier this year that provides free rides around the campus, starting from the carpark building.

Waikato DHB Service and Campus Redevelopment project director Ian Wolstencroft is keen for visitors to use these services, particularly while the hospital is changing so much.

"It is understandable that some people are finding the distances difficult.

"Having to walk the full length of the red corridor from the carpark building to a clinic is a fair hike for any person.

"Anyone who thinks they will have trouble should get a ride on a shuttle to the hospital area they are visiting. The service is free and there for visitors to use," he said.

Waikato Hospital's red corridor is a familiar walkway for patients and visitors and the length of it has been a popular topic of conversation since the opening of the carpark building.

Mr Wolstencroft said not many people would have walked the full distance before the carpark building opened because of where the old main entrance was.

"But this long distance to clinics is only temporary," he said.

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"In 2012 when the project is complete the Waikato Clinical Centre will link directly into the carpark building at three levels so your appointment will be merely a few metres walk from your car."

The carpark building needed to be built before other planned construction so the hospital could maintain the number of carparks onsite.

"We had to close the old main carpark to allow construction of the new emergency department building to get underway.

"If we hadn't completed the carpark building before this, then there would be nowhere for patients and visitors to park," Mr Wolstencroft said.

Other planned work for the redevelopment of Waikato Hospital includes:
* Major refurbishment to the delivery suite
* Neonatal Intensive Care Unit extension
* Emergency Department construction
* Forensics upgrade at Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre
* Waikato Clinical Centre construction

For more information about Waikato DHB's Service and Campus Redevelopment project visit www.waikatodhb.govt.nz.

ENDS

Note: A photo of the seats and busy red corridor is available on request.

Contact:
Ashleigh Peek
Communications Consultant
Media and Communications
Waikato District Health Board
Phone: 021 359 315

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 353,460 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 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.