(PR.co.nz) Private hospital company, Wakefield Health Limited, is reviewing its facilities in Wellington and Hastings to “future proof” them for the next 20 to 30 years.
“First on the list is Wakefield Hospital in Newtown,” said the company’s chief executive, Andrew Blair.
Mr Blair said as part of its review of hundreds of Wellington buildings the Wellington City Council had identified buildings on the hospital’s Newtown site as possibly needing work to bring them up to the current earthquake-prone building threshold. He stressed that the buildings involved did not include operating theatres or inpatient accommodation.
“While we have joined the list of hundreds of Wellington buildings where remedial work may be required over the next 10 to 20 years, we don’t intend to sit on our hands. We are planning to ensure the buildings are up to a standard that exceeds the current earthquake-prone building threshold before the Council’s 10 year deadline”.
“We’ll be looking at all our buildings in Wellington and Hastings with the aim of making sure they are fit for purpose for the next 20 to 30 years.”
“We are not undertaking this initiative just for our patients, staff and our company. We have an obligation to all people in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay regions to be able to provide contemporary medical facilities and services in any civil emergency. This work is part of meeting that obligation.”
Mr Blair said Wakefield Health would be taking a considered approach that integrates with long-term planning as has been adopted at the company’s Bowen Hospital.
“While we don’t intend to take 10 years, our emphasis will be on getting it done right and doing so as part of our ongoing development programme to meet the needs of our patients, staff and the specialists who use our facilities for many years to come. The amounts likely to be expended, and the timeframe for any works, have yet to be determined but the amounts involved are not expected to be material in the context of the group’s anticipated profitability” he said.
Wakefield Health owns and operates Wakefield Hospital in Newtown, Wellington, Bowen Hospital in Crofton Downs, Wellington and Royston Hospital in Has
Media Release from Wakefield Health Limited on 6 May 2010