Women will now have their own dedicated space in Palmerston North Hospital for surgical recovery and assessments with
the opening of the new Women’s Assessment and Surgical Unit (WASU).
Opened with a blessing on Tuesday 2 June, the WASU is an eight-bed short-stay surgical unit for women, based adjacent to
the maternity ward on Level 2.
The unit will have a specialist focus on gynaecology, however, women recovering from other surgeries will also be able
to be utilise the facility.
MidCentral District Health Board Healthy Women Children and Youth Operations Executive Sarah Fenwick said the unit would
provide a safe space for women to recover.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to open this unit to assist the women of our district in having a dedicated
space of their own within the hospital,” Ms Fenwick said.
“The unit is going to be especially helpful for women dealing with pregnancy loss . We hope this unit will provide them
with a space where they can recover with privacy and dignity.”
The unit would also help to improve patient flow through the hospital by providing extra capacity for surgical beds
across the facility, Ms Fenwick said.