Delight at New Health Facilities Announcement

25 September 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

WCDHB Chair & Chief Executive Delighted with New Health Facilities Announcement

Canterbury and West Coast District Health Board chief executive, David Meates, says this is the news the community and WCDHB staff have been waiting for, for a very long time.

“We have been given the green-light to proceed with planning for a new hospital and an adjoining Integrated Family Health Centre to be built on the current Grey Hospital site. The planned completion date is by the end of 2016.

The Government has approved a budget of $60 million for this development in Greymouth.

“In Westport, it’s full steam ahead to design an Integrated Family Health Centre, and we will be seeking private-sector partners to develop this with us.

“These approvals are fantastic news for the whole West Coast community and reflect the culmination of so much work by so many people over a number of years,” David Meates said.

Board chair, Dr Paul McCormack, says “Our staff are working in quake-prone buildings and I know that new buildings will make a world of difference. These new facilities will be a game-changer for health services on the Coast.

“The Government’s $60 million dollar investment is a vote of confidence to building a sustainable, reliable health service on the Coast,” Dr McCormack said.

David Meates says the West Coast DHB will soon be entering an exciting phase of designing buildings to match the new models of care that are being introduced.

“Being part of the design process is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people on the Coast to create health facilities for the future. I encourage anyone who has a chance to be involved to make the most of every opportunity. This will ensure our new facilities meet the needs of people who will be using them,” David Meates said.

“I am absolutely thrilled with today’s news and can’t wait to get cracking with the next phase. We will be putting a project team together over the coming weeks and look forward to involving and updating the community as our plans progress,” David Meates said.

ENDS

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