A fully staffed new inpatient unit with 28 additional beds has opened at Hawke’s Bay Hospital – one of the most significant expansions in the district’s healthcare capacity in many years.
Health New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley says the unit will support more timely care for patients by helping relieve pressure on the hospital’s ED and existing wards.
“Hawke’s Bay Hospital needs extra inpatient capacity right now and it’s very positive to see this new modular unit constructed in just nine months,” he said.
“We know more is still needed but this will provide much-needed additional patient spaces while planning continues for the redevelopment of Hawke’s Bay Hospital to meet future needs.”
The new unit will provide space for short-stay surgical patients, as well as surgical assessment and planning services. It will help reduce pressure across the hospital by creating dedicated space for surgical patients and making more beds available elsewhere.
All the new roles required to run the new unit have been fully recruited prior to opening – including 3.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) Senior Nurses, 28 FTE Registered Nurses and 6.4 FTE Health Care Assistants.
Health NZ Group Director of Operations David Warrington says the opening is an important step for patients, whānau and staff.
“This unit gives our teams more space to care for people who need hospital-level surgical care. It will help patients move through ED and theatres more smoothly, support our surgical services and reduce some of the pressure on existing wards.
“This new unit is an important part of the wider investment taking place across Hawke’s Bay Hospital. It provides additional capacity now, while we continue progressing the major redevelopment and other infrastructure projects that will support our community into the future.”
The approximately 1,000 square-metre building was constructed in modules off-site, while foundations and other enabling works were completed at the hospital. The modules were then transported to Hawke’s Bay and assembled on engineered foundations. The project also drew on the expertise of six local trade companies, ensuring local businesses played a role in delivering this important investment for the region.
It follows other major investments in Hawke’s Bay, including a $44.8 million cancer centre, a $35.8 million radiology expansion and refurbishment as well as improvements to the intensive care unit, laboratories, special care baby unit and emergency department.
Health NZ’s Head of Delivery for Infrastructure and Investment Simon Trotter says Hawke’s Bay is the first of five units being delivered through the national programme.
“Opening the first unit is a significant milestone for the programme. This modern clinical facility uses modular construction and has been designed alongside clinicians and built to the same clinical, building and safety standards as a permanent hospital facility.
“The national programme will add 140 beds across five hospitals, providing extra capacity sooner while longer-term projects or campus redevelopment continue to be planned.”
The wider national Interim Inpatient Unit Programme will deliver units at Nelson, Middlemore, Waikato and Wellington Regional hospitals.