Proposal presented for re-development of Christchurch Hospital

Canterbury District Health Board has revealed a proposal for a multimillion-dollar re-development of Christchurch Hospital as a result of its work on developing a Facilities Master Plan for CDHB sites.

The re- development is still in the concept stage but was presented to Board members last week and will be forwarded to the Ministry of Health as a Strategic Staged Analysis* by the end of September 2009.  The process from there will be for the Board to develop a detailed business case for approval by the Minister of Health by September 2010. It is expected that the first stage of the re-development will take three years to build following approval of a detailed facilities design, which could take up to 18 months to complete.

CDHB Chief Executive David Meates said, “Canterbury had one of the oldest populations in New Zealand, which was already placing extra pressure on Christchurch Hospital and other DHB facilities. In the last two years, work has been progressing with primary health providers on increasing the number of health services that can be offered in the community rather than in hospitals. This planning process has reinforced the need for more appropriate hospital facilities to enable high quality patient care for present and future generations.”

“Many of the buildings at Christchurch Hospital, including the main 360 bed Riverside block, are aging, not fit for purpose and do not meet current earthquake standards.  Unless we redevelop the Christchurch site or find another alternative we are facing a real sustainability issue with many of our core health services,” he said.

“The Christchurch site is also very constrained with virtually no practical opportunity to construct a major facility within the existing boundaries – whilst maintaining the delivery of existing health services.  A number of options have been considered and despite the constraints, the health planners have been able to develop a concept design for the main site at Christchurch Hospital that would enable us to construct the facility while retaining the use of the existing buildings.”

A patient centred approach to care is at the heart of the proposed design which includes two new multilevel buildings being constructed behind the hospital. Vastly improved access to key areas, including a new front entrance and major hospital departments, such as a new children’s facility, are part of the plan. Separate and smooth flowing access ways are envisaged for emergency vehicles and visitor traffic. Linkages between the new buildings and current Parkside site, Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Canterbury Health Laboratories and CDHB’s St Asaph St are also part of the proposal.

Unlike the present hospital, the re-development would co-locate essential services.  For example, the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit would be within close proximity of each other with a helicopter pad above for fast transfer of seriously ill patients.

CDHB planning work is also continuing on the organisation’s other sites including those at Burwood, The Princess Margaret Hospital, Kaikoura, Akaroa, Darfield and Ashburton.

It is envisaged the re-development will be financed from a combination of CDHB and government funding.

CDHB has had positive discussions with Christchurch City Council about the re-development.  Mr Meates said the Council sees the hospital as an integral part of the central city and CDHB will be working with it proactively on issues such as traffic flow, aesthetics and amenities.

* A critical step at the beginning of any major capital process

ENDS