Cast-iron assurances have been given from District Health Board management that bed numbers at the new Wairarapa hospital in Masterton will not be reducing in number ? in fact, there will be around 28 per cent more.
There are 72 beds in the present Masterton Hospital, when the new one opens
in March 2006; there will be 91 beds.
These figures have been given by the board's chief executive, David Meates, in response to rumours circulating in the community that bed numbers would be reduced as part of the redevelopment.
Mr Meates said health services in Wairarapa were going through a huge period of change.
His staff had also heard a myriad of stories, both fact and fiction, about what would be on offer at the new hospital and he has produced a list of what is to be provided bed-wise.
Proposed bed numbers are: medical and surgical 38, acute assessment beds 6, obstetric inpatient 7, neo-natal 2, paediatric 7 (includes four swing beds which may be used by adults ? the design ensuring adults and children are separated), high dependency unit 6, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation 16 and day unit (day surgical and medical) 9.
The total of 91 beds excludes six lazy boy chairs in the day unit, seven in the treatment bay and two in the resuscitation bay in the emergency department.
Currently, the hospital is operating on an average occupancy rate of 57 a day, although it only takes a flu epidemic in winter to have the wards bursting at the seams.
Meantime, just how the staff will be configured and how services will be provided are still part of a consultation process present staff are going through. There's another two weeks of sessions examining each department where staff are presenting their submissions. It's hoped the make up of the services will be clarified by the end of March,
Mr Meates said there are innovations to come from the discussions and once finalised the region will be one to be envied health-wise.
