Christchurch Hospital’s Extended Emergency Department Officially Opens

Christchurch Hospital’s extended and refurbished Emergency Department will be officially opened this Friday 4 July.

The $4.84 million project, which began last year and has been staged to allow the ED to continue running throughout, has increased the size of the department by a third and the number of patient beds from 39 to 55.  It includes an elevated extension to the north side of the department and a smaller extension near the ambulance bays, on the ED’s south side.

The ED extensions have been completed as part of Project RED (Rejuvenating the Emergency Department), which aims to improve patient care and flow through the ED.

Christchurch Hospital General Manager Mark Leggett said he was delighted the project had been completed on time and within budget. He also thanked patients, staff and contractors for their co-operation and goodwill during the upgrade. “This project has been carried out in a very busy Emergency Department and subsequently has had a huge impact on other departments in Christchurch Hospital, staff and patients. But everyone has coped extremely well with the noise, disruption and inconvenience, while maintaining patient safety.”

Emergency Department Physician Dr Mike Ardagh said staff had been working in the southern part of the extension since March and had moved into the northern extension last month. The new, enlarged space was already allowing staff to work more efficiently and effectively.

“Because we have more space, it has allowed us to divide the area where we see patients into four different parts, according to how urgently a patient needs to be seen. Staff are assigned to each of the areas and patients go to the most appropriate area, ensuring we can see them more quickly.”

Board Chairman Alister James said the upgrade would improve the service offered to Canterbury people. “As well as the new extensions, there are more staff being recruited to the ED. Patient safety is paramount and it’s my expectation that these improvements to the department will greatly improve the experiences of patients and their families.”

ENDS