Board decision will improve hydrotherapy pool

5 October 2005

Board decision will improve hydrotherapy pool access in Capital & Coast DHB district

People in the Capital & Coast DHB district are set to have access to hydrotherapy services in three different places, as a result of a decision made at the Board’s monthly meeting.

The Board today took just minutes to endorse a proposal from management which will make hydrotherapy services available at sites in Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti.

Their decision includes accepting a proposal made by Wellington City Council for a joint hydrotherapy pool based in the community at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre.

The proposal from WCC will see an existing pool at the Aquatic Centre redeveloped to meet all of the standards required for hydrotherapy. The redeveloped pool will be larger than the old hydrotherapy pool which had been demolished to make way for the redevelopment of Wellington Hospital.

Once completed, the hydrotherapy pool at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre will include full disability access, as well as separate changing areas and a high level of privacy for pool users.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have this matter resolved,” Board chairman Bob Henare said, noting that the Board’s decision was unanimous. “This is a ringing endorsement of our commitment to providing hydrotherapy in the community, close to where people live.

“We are grateful to the Council for continuing to work with us, and look forward to a positive ongoing relationship as the pool is developed and established in our community”.

Mr Henare says the Council’s initial proposal, for an entirely new pool, had significant cost implications for the Board which would have limited the DHB’s ability to fund other community services. “Their revised proposal, which we have accepted today, is significantly more affordable for the Board, and we believe it creates a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

The pool will meet all of the DHB’s requirements for hydrotherapy, with the WCC also being able to offer public access and sessions for a wide range of others who may wish to use hydrotherapy.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to work in partnership with the WCC, to provide a hydrotherapy pool for people in our district – both for C&C DHB patients and for people living in the community to access it as well,” Mr Henare says.

Hydrotherapy will also continue to be available in Porirua (on the Kenepuru Community Hospital site) and on the Kapiti Coast (through an arrangement with the Seven Oaks Retirement Village). The Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre hydrotherapy pool is expected to open in the second half of 2006.

ENDS

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