City hospital shift trauma-free

By MARTIN JOHNSTON and PHILIP ENGLISH

The only malfunction in the shift of the first patients into the new Auckland City Hospital at the weekend was a disconnected television aerial in a patient day room.

"We have been pleasantly surprised at the smoothness of it," Auckland District Health Board building programme chief Nigel Murray said last night.

None of the 70 patients wheeled in their beds through the enclosed air-bridge from Auckland Hospital at the weekend, many of them elderly people, experienced any medical difficulties on the way.

"They're all on the northern side of the new hospital, so of course they're enjoying the nice views. One of the patients said, 'This is like a hotel,' as she looked out the window with her cup of tea," he said.

Des Greacen, a patient from Waiheke Island, complained that he sounded like he had left his voice behind, but was happy enough with his new ward which he thought had a floor more fit for dancing.

Ivy Molloy was the first patient into the new level six Older People's Health wards, winning, like others, a commemorative certificate from Health Minister Annette King and a superb view of the Waitemata Harbour.

Mrs Molloy, 89, of Mt Wellington, said the view was beautiful but her thinking on hospitals was more mundane.

"They're all the same as far as I am concerned. I am not a lover of hospitals ... I think I have done them all."

Ms King, who welcomed the first patients, was impressed. She said the new hospital was functional and embraced the needs of staff and patients. The $447 million building programme - which included a new outpatients and day-surgery clinic at Greenlane - was the biggest hospital development of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

The hospital features electronic medical records, networked patient monitoring systems and computerised pictures of x-rays and other medical images.

"This hospital was built on time and on budget and is pretty spectacular ... So far, so good. For many people who have worked in cramped quarters this will be spacious, open and airy - a good investment for Auckland," Ms King said.

The three-week-long Auckland Hospital shift into the new, $200 million facility, which has more than 800 beds, is now one-quarter complete. Green Lane Hospital will follow in December and National Women's next April-May.

Dr Murray said there would be a break from shifting patients today, but it would resume tomorrow, when about 40 would be moved.

The new hospital had also started receiving patients from the Auckland Hospital emergency department, which would not shift into the new building until Wednesday week.