Media information
For immediate release
Date: 5 December 2008
New hospital wards open for public viewing
The final piece of the new Thames Hospital puzzle is almost complete and will open on Wednesday 17 December, but not
before the public gets the chance to see inside.
The 54-bed Inpatient Unit will be open for the Thames-Coromandel community to view on Monday 8 December, 2-5.30pm.
Service manager Jacquie Mitchell said it is an opportunity for locals to see inside a brand new inpatient facility
before it opens.
"It's also an opportunity for us to show our appreciation to the community for their understanding while construction
was happening.
"The new Inpatient Unit is a huge improvement on the old building that has served the community well over the last 40
years.
"We had a great turnout at the clinical centre open day and everyone was very pleased and impressed with our new
facilities.
"We are hoping for the same kind of reaction on Monday and hopefully the same number of people," she said.
Visitors to the Inpatient Unit on Monday should park in the hospital's Bella Street carpark for easy access.
The unit will house the hospital wards and high acuity unit. Each bedroom has its own ensuite and some have garden
courtyard views.
A rehabilitation courtyard is also a special feature of the unit along with two negative pressure rooms for patient
isolation and separate whanau and procedure rooms.
Thames Hospital's new Inpatient Unit is one part of Waikato DHB's Service and Campus Redevelopment project at Thames and
Waikato hospitals.
The opening of the Inpatient Unit follows the opening of the new clinical centre in October and a new café and kitchen
late last year.
The Waikato DHB board also recently approved the construction of a primary birthing centre at Thames Hospital.
A resource consent application is underway and designs are being finalised.
ENDS