New sky bridge development in plan to expand patient care

3 March 2016

New sky bridge development in plan to expand patient care to Waitemata community

Waitemata District Health Board (DHB) is constructing a sky bridge linking the Elective Surgery Centre (ESC) with the main hospital tower as part of plans to further integrate and expand services on the North Shore Hospital site.

The bridge creates a covered link between the main hospital tower block and the ESC, allowing the DHB to perform more complex surgeries as facilities continue to expand, including plans under development for an additional ward on the ESC site.

Waitemata DHB Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley says the sky bridge will allow increased staff and patient-transfer flow between the main hospital and the ESC as the DHB’s facilities grow to meet the demands of our rapidly rising population.

“In the short-term, the bridge will allow the DHB to maximise the use of its state-of-the-art Elective Surgery Centre, increasing the volume and complexity of surgeries undertaken at the facility in time for winter 2016.”

“This weather-proof link between the two buildings will become all the more important as we further develop the ESC site to meet the needs of our community. It will be a critical piece of infrastructure for delivering high-quality patient care.”

“The bridge will provide direct access to the High Dependency and Intensive Care Units in the main hospital, enabling an expanded range of complex procedures to be provided at the ESC.”

The bridge forms part of a wider strategy of providing covered links between key facilities on the North Shore campus, including the access way linking the new inpatient adult mental health unit He Puna Waiora and the main hospital building.

“Developing our hospital facilities in this way promotes an integrated approach to patient care, with faster patient transfers and an improved experience for those undergoing treatment in various hospital buildings,” says Dr Bramley.

“Construction of the bridge has just commenced, with some roads on the hospital campus closed to accommodate works. Diversions will be in place and we thank the public in advance for driving with are and demonstrating patience around the hospital site.”

The sky bridge is a key project in the DHB’s Waitemata 2025 10-year plan to meet the increasingly diverse health care needs of the fastest-growing DHB population in the country.

Waitemata 2025 continues the Board’s focus on growth in services and facilities, including the following major developments:

He Puna Wāiora – new 46-bed mental health services inpatient unit on the North Shore Hospital site (complete)

Hine Ora – a dedicated 15-bed dedicated women’s health ward at North Shore Hospital (complete)

An expansion of Waitakere Hospital’s emergency department, which will see it almostdouble in size (completion scheduled for August 2016)

Plans for a new 15-bed villa development at Mason Clinic

ends

© Scoop Media