"It's a red letter day for Wairarapa," Prime Minister Helen Clark told the gathering of around 500 guests who watched her unveil a plaque and officially announce the Wairarapa Hospital open. She said it presented a whole new model of health service and had been the biggest ever upheaval in theregion's health service. "Now there can be no debate. Wairarapa has a purpose-built new hospital and it is here to stay" Miss Clark said. "I have no doubt that the local community will embrace the new hospital in the same spirit as that which drove people to rally round and save the old." Miss Clark said with the new hospital comes new ways of delivering services, and in many cases required change to years of traditional clinical practice. "All this requires detailed planning and meticulous preparation for staff across the hospital, which is no easy task." She said what has happened in Wairarapa can be mirrored around the country. She listed other hospitals she'd opened recently. These included Invercargill, Central Otago and at Hawera. Kaitaia, Thames and Horowhenua had also has new hospitals approved. "A well equipped, well functioning public hospital system is a critical asset and as essential service," she said.
