Ryman Healthcare opens 29 hosp rooms in Kilbirnie

Ryman Healthcare opens 29 Rita Angus hospital rooms in Kilbirnie

Publicly-listed Ryman Healthcare has announced the opening of 29 new hospital rooms at their Rita Angus retirement village in Kilbirnie, Wellington.

Minister for Senior Citizens and Associate Health Minister Ruth Dyson and Ryman chief executive Kevin Hickman attended the launch in Wellington yesterday.

The new facility will provide continuing hospital care for the elderly in Kilbirnie and the surrounding eastern suburbs.

``We have pushed hard for these 29 new hospital rooms so we can not only expand our village at Rita Angus but also provide a quality service for people in that part of the city,’’ Mr Hickman said today.

``The hospital rooms allow our residents to maintain their links with their spouse and the community within the village, even if their health deteriorates.

``Failing health is traumatic at the best of times and it will be a relief for those who enter Rita Angus they won’t have to relocate outside the district.

"This is a great example of the government and the private sector working together to achieve positive outcomes.’’ Rita Angus has 160 residents. Ms Dyson said Ryman had responded well to changing needs and demands.

``Today's celebration is in a sense an indication of your ongoing commitment to ensure that older people in Wellington have access to top-level care in top-level facilities."

Ryman meanwhile, confirmed they will shortly be opening 39 new hospital rooms at Shona McFarlane village in Lower Hutt. Both extra facilities are providing new jobs in the region.

Ryman is a leading New Zealand retirement village operator. Work has already begun on a new site in Napier and construction is expected to start on their Remuera site in Auckland later this year.

The company employs over 1000 people and has won the Best Retirement Village in New Zealand Award for the last three years.
Their 12 villages and seven hospitals are in Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Lower Hutt, Hamilton and Auckland.

Ryman will post its annual announcement on May 28.

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