- Hon Simeon Brown
Hawke's Bay patients will benefit from faster access to surgical care with the opening of a new 28-bed ward at Hawke's Bay Hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
"This new ward is a practical solution to meet growing demand, delivering the extra capacity Hawke's Bay Hospital needs right now and making a real difference for both patients and staff," Mr Brown says.
"It gives surgical patients dedicated space before and after their procedures, along with space for surgical assessment and planning. That means fewer disruptions to planned surgery, faster patient flow through the hospital, and less pressure on the emergency department and existing wards.
"Off-site construction has allowed it to be delivered in just over nine months, with less disruption for patients and staff, while meeting the same clinical and safety standards as a permanent hospital facility.
"This investment in hospital infrastructure has also delivered for the wider region. Six local trade companies worked on the project, supporting local jobs and keeping more of this investment in the Hawke's Bay economy."
Key features of the new ward include:
- 28 inpatient beds across 14 modules
- Around 1,000 square metres of new clinical space
- Dedicated space for short-stay surgical care, plus surgical assessment and planning services
- A design developed alongside clinicians and built for long-term use
The ward is fully staffed ahead of opening, including 3.8 FTE senior nursing positions, 28 FTE registered nurses and 6.4 FTE healthcare assistants. Among them are 13 nurses joining Hawke's Bay Hospital for the first time, further strengthening the hospital's nursing workforce.
"Other major investment is underway across Hawke's Bay Hospital, including the $44.8 million Cancer Centre now under construction and the $35.8 million radiology expansion and refurbishment, which has already doubled scanning capacity.
"Planning for the hospital's long-term redevelopment is also well advanced and moving into detailed business cases and design work. In the meantime, the new ward is providing much-needed additional capacity for patients and staff.
"I want to acknowledge local MPs Catherine Wedd for Tukituki and Katie Nimon for Napier, who have been strong advocates for improving health services for their communities and the many people across the region who rely on Hawke's Bay Hospital.
"We are focused on fixing the basics and building the future of our healthcare system. This ward delivers more capacity for Hawke's Bay now, while we invest in the infrastructure the region needs for the future," Mr Brown says.
