Media information
For immediate release

Date: 20 February 2009

Official Opening Ceremony For Thames Hospital

Last year residents got a sneak-peek inside and then patients were moved in but a special ceremony next week will mark the official opening of Thames Hospital’s new buildings.

Health minister Tony Ryall and Waikato DHB deputy chair Sally Christie will officially open the new Thames Clinical Centre and Inpatient Unit on Friday 27 February.

Service manager Jacquie Mitchell said the event would be a celebration of how far the hospital has come.

“This is an exciting time for the Thames-Coromandel community.

“It has improved the patient care we provide and is much better for staff to work in too.

“Since opening in 1868 we’ve seen some dramatic changes at Thames Hospital and this opening ceremony is a time for everyone to celebrate,” she said.

All hospital staff are invited to attend the ceremony that includes a tour of the new facilities.

Other guests include Waikato DHB management and board members; Nanaia Mahuta, Labour MP; John Tregidga, Hauraki District Council mayor; Sandra Goudie, National MP; Philipa Barriball, Thames-Coromandel District Council mayor; and Jeanette Fitzsimons, Greens MP.

The $16 million upgrade at Thames Hospital is part of the Waikato DHB’s $252 million Service and Campus Redevelopment Project.

Work began at Thames began in 2006 and included:
▪ construction of the Thames Clinical Centre
▪ construction of the 54-bed Inpatient Unit
▪ construction of a Bund Wall
▪ construction of new kitchen and Sperry Lane Café
▪ relocation and partial refurbishment of the Whanau Facility.

A new canopy is above the Mackay Street entrance and the main hospital corridor refurbished.

The Thames Clinical Centre houses a new Emergency, Radiology and all outpatient clinics. The centre links directly onto existing hospital buildings and the new Inpatient Unit.

Next up for Thames is a new primary birthing facility, approved by the Waikato DHB board last year and currently awaiting Resource Consent

Most of the facility will be pre-fabricated offsite and then moved onto the site for final fit-out and construction later this year.

Media are invited to attend the official opening ceremony, 12pm Friday 27 February. Please RSVP to Ashleigh Peek, details below.

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 5548 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.

A wide range of independent providers delivers other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.

ENDS