May 24, 2016

Burwood public open day: Sunday May 29, from 10am to 2pm

After extensive consumer consultation, planning, designing and construction, the Burwood Hospital’s new 230-bed facilities for specialist Older Persons’ Health is holding a public open day this Sunday (May 29, 2016).

David Meates, Canterbury DHB chief executive, says he is thrilled to invite the public in to have a look around the incredible new facility before patients start moving in.

“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome the community in to view this fabulous facility at our Open Day on Sunday and I’m sure it won’t disappoint,” Mr Meates says.

He says staff have put in huge hours of work, over and above their everyday shifts, to create a fit for purpose facility that meets the needs of patients and staff today and in the future.

“It’s patient and family/whanau-centred, lean and efficient, supports teaching and learning, is clinically effective and most importantly, it’s aligned with the transformation of Canterbury’s Health System to deliver the right care, at the right time, in the right place, by the right person.

“Key concepts in the design have included the idea of wellness, and ‘long life, loose fit’, which means the design will allow spaces to be used for different functions over time.”

The public open day will follow an official blessing this Thursday (May 26), before nearly 300 staff and more than 100 patients from The Princess Margaret Hospital move in to the new wards during the second week of June.

“Planning for the big move has been meticulous and includes everything from identifying the best route across town and the menu for the packed lunches for patients on their move day, to what equipment needs to move and what stays behind.

“As well as Canterbury DHB staff, Burnham-based medics from the Joint Operations Health Group of the New Zealand Defence Force will be on hand to assist as chaperones for patients during the move. A clinical assessment will be undertaken by our specialist staff to determine the appropriate transportation mode and level of escort required for each patient during the move.

“It’s been a mammoth undertaking to get to this point and the teams have done an absolutely amazing job. I’m really excited we are now so close to moving into this exceptional new facility, which will see the Canterbury Health System well into the future.”

The public open day will be held from 10am-2pm on Sunday May 29, 2016.

Key features of the new hospital include:

· Increased Older Persons’ Mental Health beds including a seclusion room, more Brain Injury Rehabilitation beds, Older Persons’ Stroke Rehabilitation beds, along with a single level ward area for Older Persons’ Mental Health beds with a high dependency room. Each floor also has shared Allied Health spaces such as gyms to support the patient rehabilitation process.

· Half of the rooms are single rooms, with the other half accommodating two beds. Rooms have TVs, wifi and each ward has communal dining areas for patients and family/whanau rooms.

· The new main entrance area includes a reception with a café, retail pharmacy and volunteer shop, and offices for support staff.

· The new Radiology Department includes an MRI, CT, two ultrasound rooms, fluoroscopy, and five general x-ray rooms.

· A new Outpatient Department includes a blood collection service area.

· There’s new administration workspaces, a new hospital kitchen, mail room, loading docks and an eco-friendly boiler house.

Entry for the open day is off Burwood Road, just before the Champion Centre at 284 Burwood Road.

There is plenty of off-street parking.

ends

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