Media release 3 December 2003
Hospital opens first stage of new outpatients department
The first areas of a new, purpose-built outpatients department at North Shore Hospital will be opened to patients for
the first time next week.
Located on the ground floor of the hospital tower block, the new areas being opened are for gynaecology, colposcopy and
orthopaedic outpatient clinics.
The moves are part of a wider construction programme that will see the former outpatients department significantly
refurbished and expanded by about a third of its previous size.
Outpatients department manager Nancy Thomson says patients will notice a huge improvement with the new facilities.
“In the gynaecology and colposcopy areas we have twice as many procedure rooms and a separate recovery area. Gynaecology
is also located in a separate space from colposcopy procedures, which allows more privacy. These services previously
shared a common space.
“Orthopaedics is also a much improved area with two new x-ray rooms, a plaster room and more consulting rooms. It is
co-located next to Radiology, which will enable patients to be x-rayed and processed quicker.”
Nancy Thomson says the gynaecology and colposcopy clinics will also be treating more patients thanks to the purchase of
a new second colposcope and three hysteroscopes.
Other areas of the new outpatients department, yet to be finished, are general medicine and surgery, mammography, breast
clinic, ORL, dental, cardiophysiology, lung function and audiology.
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When completed in April next year, the department will have seven distinct zones providing a wider range of outpatient
clinics.
The outpatients refurbishment is part of a $60 million redevelopment of North Shore Hospital that in recent years has
included a new maternity unit, emergency care centre, radiology department and day surgery facility.
Gynaecology, colposcopy and orthopaedics are due to move into the new outpatients areas this Friday (Dec 5) and be
up-and-running the following Monday.
Ends