8 February 2011

After a quick cut of a ribbon and a few cheers, Waikato Hospital’s new Emergency Department opened its doors at 8am this morning.

Nine-month-old Patrick Collins from Auckland and his mother Tina Sales (pictured right) were happy to take the first-patient honour, and the first ambulance patient arrived at 8.20am.

ED nurse manager Jenni Yeates said the changeover went very smoothly after a relatively quiet night.

“The old waiting room was empty at 7.30am, and we had only 14 patients in the department.

“We were well and truly ready for our first patient and to finally start working in our new department,” she said.

Clinical director John Bonning said there were more than 30 patients in the department at midnight but thanks to a great effort by staff, most of them were admitted or discharged by morning.

“This is the culmination of years of meticulous planning by many dedicated staff members and today’s seamless transition is a credit to them.

“Our core business of providing timely emergency care to the ill and injured will not change but this new facility will provide us with a much better environment and will allow to us work more efficiently and effectively as a team,” Dr Bonning said.

He said the ED team know that some people will be interested in seeing their new department, but wanted to remind them that it is for emergencies only.

Healthline is also available on 0800 611 116 for confidential and free health advice round the clock.

The move into the new department began at 5am and was expected to take most of the day.

Although no official opening was held, Sharon Royal, ED assoc clinical nurse manager and the longest-serving staff member on-duty cut a ribbon at the entrance, in front of a crowd of Waikato DHB staff.

The new ED is part of Waikato DHB’s $252million Building Programme currently underway.

Work began on the $48million Acute Services Building in early 2009, with ED on the ground floor and the two levels above scheduled to open in June.

The new purpose-built and state-of-the-art facility is more than twice the size of the old department and comes with new technology, equipment and enhanced privacy and security features.

For more information and pictures, go to: www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/newemergency

ENDS