Wairarapa's slick elective surgery track record is to be boosted by a major new expansion that will increase the region's capacity for privately provided elective surgery.
Wairarapa's only private surgical facility, Selina Sutherland Hospital, has had plans approved to double its size this year, from six to 12 beds, with additional
space also for future development.
Located on the Wairarapa Hospital site, Selina Sutherland Hospital leases theatre time and support services from Wairarapa District Health Board.
"We are really pleased that these plans have been approved," DHB chief executive Tracey Adamson said.
"It has always been the case in the Wairarapa that we rely on having a private hospital to help attract and retain senior medical staff. But the biggest winners from this will be the patients. Insured patients seeking elective surgery will benefit from the increased capacity, thereby clearing places on public waiting lists. Others to benefit will be local tradesmen involved in construction."
The new building will be owned by the DHB, with construction funding provided by Selina Sutherland Private Hospital.
Selina Sutherland Hospital first opened in 1996 in a vacated wing of Masterton hospital, as Masterton's only private surgical facility, Glenwood Hospital, closed in the face of mounting compliance costs for the aging building.
"The economies of leasing space and facilities has benefited both hospitals, and Wairarapa patients," Ms Adamson said.
"When the new Wairarapa Hospital was completed in 2006, Selina Sutherland remained an integral part of the design, and moved to our new, purpose built wing adjacent to the perioperative suite at the same time."
The hospital is managed by a charitable trust and headed by a board of directors.
"We have found having the private facility in the Wairarapa has been of particular benefit in attracting and retaining surgeons," Selina Sutherland Limited chair Dr Rob Dimock said.
"This has enabled us to go from strength to strength, and we have planned this extension fro some time. It will ease the pressure on our beds, which are well supported by the Wairarapa public.
"This venture has also cemented our excellent working relationship with the DHB and we are looking forward to working with them to make the plans become a reality."
Wairarapa MP John Hayes said he was delighted that 12 months of close and collaborative work with DHB chair Bob Francis and Health Minister Tony Ryall had paid off.
"This was a great way to start the year because it was important for Masterton and the wider community that the development proceed," Mr Hayes said.
"Aside from benefits brought to the local economy through the project it would also assist the DHB to retain staff, but most important the project would help an improved service delivery to the community."
A recent report on standardised discharged rates of publicly-provided elective surgery - a benchmarking measure used to compare access rates to elective surgery across the country - showed Wairarapa had the highest rate of all DHBs across the 2008-09 year.
In the same year the DHB also tracked above the national average for all 12 speciality surgery groups except for cardiac surgery, which is provided at Wellington Hospital.
Other developments planned for the DHB grounds include a clinical support centre estimated at $3.5 million and a one-storey building to be built near the DHB's Blair Street entrance which
Wairarapa's slick elective surgery track record is to be boosted by a major new expansion that will increase the region's capacity for privately provided elective surgery.
Wairarapa's only private surgical facility, Selina Sutherland Hospital, has had plans approved to double its size this year, from six to 12 beds, with additional
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.