Move to new Burwood facilities kicks off

June 10, 2016

Move to new Burwood facilities kicks off

Canterbury DHB and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will start moving patients from The Princess Margaret Hospital to new facilities at Burwood from Monday (June 13).

The move has been planned in meticulous detail, which will involve transporting up to 140 patients to the new Burwood Hospital Older Persons’ Health facilities over four days (June 13-16).

Dan Coward, Canterbury DHB General Manager Older Persons’ Health, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, says staff have put in an incredible amount of planning to ensure the move of frail elderly patients is carried out without a hitch.

“The average age of patients in these wards is 85 years old, so we’ve had to ensure our planning for the move has been meticulous, right down to the last wheelchair, as well as making sure every patient’s relatives and carers are informed about the move,” Dan says.

“The plan is to move one ward at a time. We’re estimating we will have to move the maximum possible number of patients; so that’s 20 patients per ward, which is 140 patients altogether.”

Dan says each patient will be transported in an appropriate vehicle – an ambulance, a wheelchair taxi or a Canterbury DHB vehicle.

“A clinical assessment will be undertaken by our specialist staff to determine the appropriate transportation mode and level of escort required for each patient during the move.

“As well as Canterbury DHB staff, Burnham-based medics from the Joint Operational Health Group of the NZDF will be on hand to assist as chaperones for patients during the move.

“We have also enlisted the help of the Christchurch Transport Operations Centre and NZ Police to ensure that we use the best route on the day.”

Dan says everyone is looking forward to getting into the wonderful new 230-bed facilities for specialist Older Persons' Health.

“We’re all really excited to get our patients and staff into this fit-for-purpose facility that meets the needs of patients and staff today and in the future.”
New Zealand Army Captain Peter Bullock, of the Joint Operational Health Group, says helping with the move allows the NZDF to gain valuable training experience.
“The move gives our personnel an insight into a large scale migration of patients. It also enables us to practice operating within a multi-agency environment, and lend a helping hand to our community,” Captain Bullock says.

All moves are anticipated to be complete by 5 pm on Thursday 16 June.

Key features of the new hospital include:

· Increased Older Persons' Mental Health beds including a seclusion room, more Brain Injury Rehabilitation beds, Older Persons' Stroke Rehabilitation beds, along with a single level ward area for Older Persons' Mental Health beds with a high dependency room. Each floor also has shared Allied Health spaces such as gyms to support the patient rehabilitation process.

· Half of the rooms are single rooms, with the other half accommodating two beds. Rooms have TVs, wifi and each ward has communal dining areas for patients and family/whanau rooms.

· The new main entrance area includes a reception with a café, retail pharmacy and volunteer shop, and offices for support staff.

· The new Radiology Department includes an MRI, CT, two ultrasound rooms, fluoroscopy, and five general x-ray rooms.

· A new Outpatient Department includes a blood collection service area.

· There's new administration workspaces, a new hospital kitchen, mail room, loading docks and an eco-friendly boiler house.

There is plenty of off-street parking for the public near to the main front entrance.

ENDS

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