Redevelopment at Bay of Islands Hospital

Media Release
1 September, 2016

Redevelopment at Bay of Islands Hospital

Compliance requirements, additional geotechnical testing of the proposal building platform and a change in the proposed methodology for the demolition of old buildings has delayed construction at Bay of Islands Hospital.

After an extensive review of the project since February 2016 a preferred concept has now been identified. Significant work on the new hospital design is due for completion in the next month which will enable detailed pricing to confirm the project remains on budget.

The preferred design has the Accident and Medical Centre on the ground floor, with connection directly through the main entrance in Te Hauora O Pukepuke Rau so that patients can access the most appropriate treatment quickly. Above the Accident and Medical Centre will be a new 19 bed ward.

“We remain committed to working in partnership with Ngāti Hine Health Trust on redeveloping the site into a modern whānau and community health and wellness campus for the people of the Mid North and we expect to be making application to the Far North District Council for resource consent mid-September,” noted chief executive Dr Nick Chamberlain.

The Ngāti Hine Health Trust has advanced the design of Te Hauora O Pukepuke Rau, the new integrated whānau wellness centre to be built alongside the existing hospital, and linked to the hospital by the new Accident and Medical Centre. For more information about Te Hauora O Pukepuke Rau, visit Ngāti Hine’s website www.nhht.co.nz

The partnership between Northland DHB and Ngāti Hine Health Trust will enhance individual and whānau experiences, with co-location reducing travel time and coordination of services ensuring that patients and whānau see the right people at the right time.

“As well as your visiting your local GP, patients and whānau can attend specialist outpatient clinics, see community and specialist nurses such as tamariki ora nurses and access health promotion and whānau ora support from kaimahi (workers), Kaumātua and kuia,” said Gwen Tepania-Palmer, Ngati Hine Health Trust Chairwoman.

“There will also be telemedicine options, a dispensary, injury rehabilitation gym, podiatry, physiotherapists, dental surgeries and traditional Māori wellness practices such as mirimiri - all available from the same site.”

Members of the Ngāti Hine Health Trust Board attended a recent DHB board meeting and presented a scale model of Te Hauora O Pukepuke Rau, noting that they are now ready to go to tender. Mock up rooms were built to guide final design and feedback from the community, and staff who will be working there, has been extremely positive.

“Key aspects such as natural light and spacious consulting rooms were some of the things that people really liked about the facility,” offered Gwen.

Board chair Anthony Norman congratulated Ngāti Hine on their progress and said “with the compliance matters now settled the DHB is looking forward to advancing the new hospital design.”

Wishing Tree

The DHB would like to hear from you about the kinds of things that you think patients and whānau would benefit from, things that would make a difference to their stay or visit to the hospital. We are growing a ‘wishing tree’ that will gather everyone’s ideas of things we can fundraise for.

The kinds of things that have already been suggested include newspaper subscriptions, lockable insect screens so patients can enjoy fresh air while they sleep, landscaping once the redevelopment and Te Hauora O Pukepuke Rau are completed and the planting of fruit trees.

You might be an individual or a member of a local service group who would be keen to adopt a wish and fundraise for it. For example, a garden club who might manage the sourcing of new plants and landscaping of the grounds.

Maybe you have an interest in the history of the hospital and would like to fundraise for the photo collection to be restored, or if you have an interest in art you might like to help raise funds for new artwork.

Write or email us your ideas and we will place them on the wishing tree. In September we will collate all of the ideas and the Northland Foundation, who takes care of our charitable accounts and major fundraising, will assist us in making the wishes come true.
To get in touch with us email or write to: Ros Martin ros@northlandfoundation.org.nz
PO Box 10011,Te Mai, Whangarei 0143.

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