Next stage in development of Waitakere Hospital underway

Next stage in development of Waitakere Hospital underway

Waitemata DHB (District Health Board) is set to almost double the number of medical teams at Waitakere Hospital, building on its programme of investment in services and facilities for West Auckland.

Waitemata DHB Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley says by the end of this year Waitakere Hospital will have eight new medical specialists supported by a significantly expanded pool of junior doctors.

“The increase in general medical staff from six to eleven teams will equip us to treat significantly more Waitakere residents at their local hospital.”

“The change will also have a positive effect at North Shore Hospital, responding to the growth occurring here by reducing the number of medical patients transferring from Waitakere.”

“Increasing our medical workforce at Waitakere Hospital is central to our commitment to invest and further develop clinical services in West Auckland,” says Dr Bramley.

Waitemata DHB Head of Division Medicine Dr Jonathan Christiansen says the staffing increase is a key part of the DHB’s approach to provide high quality, accessible medical treatment for Waitakere residents at their local hospital.

“The expansion in medical staff recognises projected future population growth in Waitakere and puts the right people to provide the best care in the right place at the right time to meet this demand.”

“We also understand that people in our communities prefer, where possible, to be treated closer to their homes, families and loved ones, and we are pleased to provide more opportunity for this to happen,” says Dr Christiansen.

Following the completion of a formal consultation process, the expansion in general medical staff will be in place by December 2015, and will be well embedded before the new Waitakere Hospital Emergency Department opens in late 2016.

“When the newly expanded emergency department opens we will have the systems and medical staff in place to meet the needs of acutely unwell patients, and support a more efficient flow of patients throughout the hospital, enabling us to achieve the best possible health outcomes, faster access and enhanced patient experience, from admission to discharge,” says Dr Christiansen.

The investment in new medical staff follows a significant programme of development in West Auckland over recent years, with the construction a new emergency department currently underway, the recently completed amenities upgrade of the maternity unit, expanded mental health and addictions service staff within the ED, and the addition of an onsite outpatient pharmacy in the hospital foyer.

Growth is set to continue with an extensive refurbishment of the family rooms in hospital wards on the way, along with 80 new on-site public carparks due for completion in early 2016 and Phase Two of our investment in West Auckland Maternity Services.

ENDS

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