Launch brings two services together

Thursday, 5 August 2010, 5:33 pm
Press Release: Waikato District Health Board

Launch brings two services together

Two services, which currently operate separately within Waikato District Health Board’s provider arm of hospital and health services, are to come together in a new $42 million building at the Waikato Hospital campus.

The Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health Services for Older People will provide integrated services for the elderly and those who need rehabilitation after a stroke or trauma.

Older Persons clinical director Dr Phil Wood said the aim was to develop 'state of the art' services by helping patients in the right place at the right time with the right people.
A business case for a major new assessment, treatment and rehabilitation facility, tagged for construction on Pembroke St, across the road from the main Waikato Hospital campus, is with the Ministry of Health for final sign off.
The purpose-built facility will enable assessment and rehabilitation teams to work in the most efficient way possible. It will allow for seamless provision of:

• services for older adults: inpatients, assessment-treatment-rehabilitation, and outpatients
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• mental health services for older people
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• organised stroke services including acute stroke service
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• rehabilitation services for under 65 year olds.
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The facility will have 113 beds, significant outdoor areas and courtyard space and include a bridge over Pembroke St to link it with Waikato Hospital. Tender documents went out to prospective builders last week. Construction should start later this year and be complete by early 2012.

A launch at Waikato Hospital today, opened by Waikato DHB chief executive Craig Climo, showed staff what the building will look like and how the combined services will work.

Mr Climo said when he started at Waikato DHB in late 2007, he realised how undersized both services were.

“As part of the review of the redevelopment plans, we asked that the services be looked at closely.

“The new service is about integrating not only psycho-geriatric services and rehab services for over 65s and under 65s, but also the rest of the campus, other providers and the community.

“The service will be very important for efficiency and enhancing throughput and of course improving patient outcomes.

“This is the opportunity for your services to cast off their bridesmaid label and take your rightful place,” Mr Climo told staff.

“This will be a flagship for such services in New Zealand.”

Architects unveiled the plans while senior medical staff highlighted their expectations of what collaboration and co-location would offer.

Barbara Garbutt and Jeff Bennett, group managers for Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health and Addictions Service talked about their visions for the development.

Both services are excited and committed to:

• service collaboration, ensuring service delivery is seamless and appropriate across the continuum
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• delivery of integrated services, achieving a value that the constituent services cannot achieve in
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• greater efficiency and efficacy of services
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• co-location, improving communication in the interests of patients and staff development.
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For more details, copies of architects’ plans (http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/file/fileid/30311) and powerpoint presentation go to

http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/page/pageid/2145839528

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Waikato District Health Board

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Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.

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