New $80 million facilities redevelopment for Taranaki Base Hospital

30 July 2008

Taranaki DHB chairman John Young is delighted to receive approval from Minister of Health David Cunliffe for an $80 million revamp of Taranaki Base Hospital.

“This is very exciting for the people of Taranaki. The Ministry of Health will fund $43 million for stage one of the redevelopment proposal with the remainder coming from the DHB and the community,” said Mr Young.

There are three stages to the total redevelopment project which will be phased over five years.

Taranaki DHB Chief Executive Tony Foulkes, welcomed the good news.

“The redevelopment is not just about bricks and mortar. It will mean we can deliver greater efficiencies through improved workflows, by lowering costs and improving levels of service,” he said.

“This site has become tired. We want to bring Taranaki Base in line with modern practices. We have looked at our buildings and services in relation to patient care and clinical safety and the redevelopment is vital for the future health and wellbeing of the people of Taranaki.”

“Over the last decade there has been an increasing trend to deliver an integrated patient pathway that crosses the boundary between hospital services and the rest of the health care system,” said Mr Foulkes.

Taranaki DHB General Manager Hospital and Specialist Services, Joy Farley said the new proposal would allow efficiencies and improvements to models of care, and in doing so provide a more user friendly hospital and environment focusing on wellness to patients, staff and the public.

“The stage one redevelopment will include two new surgical theatres ( six in total), ambulatory services and an inpatient ward block. The new surgical theatres will allow for more operations to be carried out. It will consolidate ambulatory and inpatient services allowing for the best models of care to be used, while bringing inpatient accommodation up to modern standards,” said Ms Farley.

“We have consulted with groups inside and outside the hospital setting and have developed a high level plan that looks at the facilities required to meet our outcomes. Further work can now begin on implementing a design plan with staff, health professionals, planners and architects,” she said.

Taranaki DHB GM Finance and Corporate Services, George Thomas said the sign off marked the beginning of a journey to take Taranaki Base Hospital into the future.

“The real work starts now. The next step is to execute our project, and put in place appropriate mechanisms and structures to plan, design and deliver the new facility within budget. The upgrade is expected to commence in late 2009,” said Mr Thomas.”

For more information please call

Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Wednesday, August 19, 2009