Hospital moves into new extension

Media release
10 October 2003

Hospital moves into new extension

A major migration programme involving staff, patients and hundreds of pieces of equipment gets under way at Waitakere Hospital next week as part of Stage 1 of the hospital’s development programme.

Departments on the move include older adult wards 1 and 2, Therapies, Outreach, Outpatients and Radiology.

They are all moving into the hospital’s new 14,700 square metre extension as part of Stage 1 of the development. Stage 2, which includes the refurbishment of the existing hospital block and the establishment of new services, is due to be completed in November 2004.

Hospital development leader Kay Hogan says departments have spent months planning the moves, which will be done in stages throughout October.

“This is a really exciting time for staff as they get ready to move into greatly improved facilities. We not only have new purpose-built assessment, treatment and rehabilitation wards for older adults, but also a new therapies gym, a larger more comfortable Radiology Department and a new Outreach area.

“Furthermore, the colour schemes, which follow the themes of bush and people, are fabulous and give the whole extension a bright and friendly feel to it.”

Ms Hogan says the moves are designed to cause as little inconvenience as possible for patients and their families.

Patients in Wards 1 and 2 will be wheeled over in their beds or by wheelchair and will be accompanied by staff at all times during the move.

“Patients who arrive for Outpatient appointments, Outreach clinics or X-rays will need to look carefully at signage, or ask for directions at reception counters.”

Ms Hogan stressed that the moves are only the first stage of the hospital redevelopment.

“Parts of the new extension will not open until November 2004 when new acute services come online and when the Stage 2 refurbishment is completed. Until then, there are still no emergency services at Waitakere Hospital.”

The Stage 2 development will take about a year to construct and involves building a child health unit, acute paediatric assessment unit, a special care baby unit and expanding the existing outpatients department.

Dates for departments moving into the new extension in October are:

October 16th – Therapies (physio, occupational and speech language therapy) social workers, Outreach
October 20/21st – AT&R wards (Older Adult Wards 1 and 2)
October 24-28th – Radiology
October 28th – Outpatients

Ends

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