Work has begun for an expanded Hastings Health Centre outside the CBD.
Demolition is under way on St Aubyn Street West on a site originally planned to be the home of an aggregated Totara Health and Hastings Health Centre, which was planned but the project was abandoned early last year.
The aggregated centre was to be one of New Zealand's largest and most advanced medical practices, including after-hours emergency care. With patients retaining their existing healthcare relationship, the new centre was expected to employ 40 doctors, 50 nurses and 70 other staff for 38,000 patients.
The site was purchased for the centre by Big Tree Development, originally a joint venture between the two health companies now owned outright by Hastings Health Centre, which plans a three-level Hastings Health Care Facility adjoining Totara Health.
Totara Health managing director Emma Foster said there would be no shared facilities. Totara was gaining extra parking as part of the development as well as the building on the corner of St Aubyn Street West and Nelson St, which would house more Totara facilities.