New entrance to HB Hospital’s emergency department

New entrance to HB Hospital’s emergency department

From today, patients arriving at Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s emergency department will now enter via a brand new entrance, to the right hand side of the former entrance to the emergency department.

Emergency department manager, Chris McKenna, said signage was being put in place to help guide the public through what is still very much a construction zone. “The builders have created an internal walkway through to the emergency department and radiology areas however, at times it is noisy and dusty, and I apologise in advance for the inconvenience this may cause.

Chris McKenna said the DHB was working hard to minimise the impact of the emergency department re-development for patients and visitors. “It is a challenge to maintain patient-friendly access to emergency care in a construction environment.” She said people arriving at the emergency department would encounter:

A reduction in the number of car parks close to ED Temporary waiting room and reception facilities Periods of noisy and/or dusty conditions due to adjacent construction activity Potential for longer than normal waiting times

“Once complete in approximately two weeks’ time, 8th September we will have a spacious new reception area and waiting room, which will service both the emergency department and the new acute assessment unit,” Chris McKenna said.

“As always, the message for the public is to save the emergency department for emergencies…if it’s not an emergency, try your GP or medical centre first.

“For all serious accidents, chest pain and life-threatening illnesses call 111,” Chris McKenna said.

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