‘Exciting progress’ for Dunedin Hospital critical care redevelopment
Progress is “well underway” for Southern DHBs proposed plans to establish a modern, new, contemporary critical care area
in Dunedin Hospital, comments Clinical Leader for the Capital Project Management, Dr David Perez.
“The proposed redevelopment represents exciting progress for the DHB. Over the next year, we understand there will be
changes and disruption, which we will try to keep to the minimum. However stick with us, as it will be well worth it to
have a purpose-designed critical care facility which will meet the needs of patients, families and staff as well as
providing the high level of care required in a tertiary services hospital,” commented Dr Perez.
While a longer term rebuild of Dunedin Hospital’s Clinical Services Building is in its planning stages, addressing areas
such as the critical care wards were regarded as urgent, and the project was prioritised for 2016.
The proposed plans, which are yet to be approved nationally to secure the capital investment required, could see the
critical care area colocated to accommodate patients who require this level of care. The design aims to provide more
privacy for patients, and greater efficiency as an integrated efficient floor that will assist each other during busy
periods.
If approved, construction of the new critical care area in the eastern half of the 5th floor has a projected start of
October. Once constructed and occupied, the western half of the 5th Floor will commence.
Enabling this improved facility has required the moving and reconfiguring of other wards and services, a process that
has required “considerable thought and discussion”, says Dr Perez.
Over the past six months, working groups with representatives from nursing, medical, allied health, administration,
building and planning were established to gather and analyse data, discuss ideas and priorities, and identify relocation
possibilities.
As a result of their work and if approval is received, Ward 5B (neurosurgery, ENT, neurology and ophthalmology) will
relocate to the 3rd Floor alongside orthopaedics, on a provisional date of July 1.
The working groups continue to consult with staff about the relocating of other services that are also currently on the
5th Floor.
Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery and Clinical Leader, Leanne Samuel comments that “staff from each floor are getting involved and sharing
their ideas of how things could be done differently or improved within the ward space”.
“Staff are attending interactive meetings, providing comments via feedback boxes and emails. This is giving the working
groups invaluable information from those who ‘work on’ the wards, to assist with setting up the third floor to run more
effective and efficiently as the staff move towards working alongside each other,” Samuels says.
ENDS