MEDIA RELEASE

October 10, 2014

Christchurch Hospital’s Riverside entrance closes

Access to the Riverside entrance at rear of Christchurch Hospital will close next week.

From 6am on Wednesday October 15, 2014, the Riverside entrance will be closed to allow work to get under way for the new Acute Services Building to be built on the Christchurch Hospital site.

The Riverside entrance is at the rear of the hospital, over the bridge from Rolleston Ave and Cambridge Terrace.

David Meates says the back of Christchurch Hospital will become the main access route for contractors and machinery working on the hospital redevelopment.

“We’re very excited things are getting underway for our new state of the art hospital facilities but realise that the next few years will be challenging,” Mr Meates says.

He says construction has to take place alongside the day-to-day operation of a busy tertiary hospital.

“We have a relatively small site to accommodate more than 4000 people a day, along with the contractors and their machinery. We’re sorry for the inconvenience but we need to close the Riverside entrance to ensure staff, patient and visitor safety.”

Signage about the closure to Riverside entrance will be placed around the hospital.

“To give you some idea of just how major this work is we’re expecting one truck every 20 minutes to be driving past the back of the hospital, and then when the earthworks begin we expect one truck every six minutes,” Mr Meates says.

“It is expected to cause significant disruption and we appreciate your cooperation while this work is happening.”

The Government has committed more than $650m to develop new facilities at both Christchurch and Burwood Hospitals. This is the largest investment in public health facilities in New Zealand.

Other work to be carried out over the next month includes moving underground pipes and cables, site clearing including some tree felling, and erecting fences around the construction site.

Pedestrians will still be able to access Hagley Park and the river bank via the Rolleston Ave bridge. Pedestrians and cyclists are asked to take extra care as the works begin.

REMINDER RE UPCOMING PARKING CHANGES

People are also reminded that from Tuesday 28 October there will be 150 fewer car parks on the Christchurch Hospital site around the hospital.

People should drive to the car park on the corner of St Asaph & Antigua Streets (the site of the former brewery – and site of the planned Metro Sports Facility). Parking costs $2 per hour or $5 per day. They can then catch a free shuttle ride to Christchurch Hospital. The pick-up point will be clearly marked by a shipping container – which will provide seating and shelter for shuttle riders while they wait.

Shuttle buses will leave every 10 -15 minutes, stopping at Hagley Outpatients and the main entrance to Christchurch Hospital.

Patients and visitors can then catch a free shuttle ride back to their car when they’re ready. Pick up will be from shuttle stops near the main hospital entrance and Hagley Outpatients.

A designated drop-off zone will be in use from Tuesday 28 October

A dedicated drop-off zone to be located outside the main entrance will be up and running on Tuesday 28 October.

If you’re a patient, a family member or friend can drop you off close to the main entrance. Volunteers will be on hand during the day to assist people who are dropped off. Your driver can then make use of the shuttle service, or come back later to collect you.

More mobility parking will be available close to the main entrance in late October, along with additional bike rack facilities.

“We ask that able-bodied visitors to the hospital and our own staff do their bit by choosing alternative forms of transport wherever possible,” he said. “If you are fit and able, consider using one of the many buses that stop right outside the hospital entrance. More staff could consider biking or car-pooling to work,” Mr Meates says.

More information about parking and other transport options can be found on the CDHB website – cdhb.health.nz/parking.

ENDS

Background information on the new Acute Services Building

Scheduled to open in 2018, the Acute Services building will comprise a three-storey podium housing the majority of Christchurch Hospital’s acute facilities and clinical support areas. Above the podium will be inpatient ward blocks over six upper floors. Two ward blocks will be built as part of this project, providing approximately 400 beds initially. Space on the podium will be left for a third block to provide additional ward capacity at some stage in the future.

The plant such as air conditioning, oxygen and gases will be located on Level 2. Below this on Level 1 are the operating theatres and intensive care unit, with the emergency department, radiology and acute medical assessment unit on the Ground Floor. The two six-level towers will house inpatient wards as well as inpatient units for paediatrics, a bone marrow treatment unit and the Child Haematology Oncology Unit (CHOC). It’s estimated that this will create a total of 62,000 m2 of new hospital space.

The building will be built to Importance Level 4 standards (180% of code) and will be base-isolated. It will also feature purpose-designed spaces for children, and a helipad on the roof.

© Scoop Media