New surgical block almost operational

SCALPELS will soon gleam alongside fresh new paint as the new surgical block at Wanganui Hospital scrubs up for use over the next fortnight.
Yesterday Whanganui District Health Board strategic developments general manager Brian Walden took the Wanganui Chronicle on a guided tour of the $6.1 million building, which, after almost 12 months' work, is now in the final stages of completion.
The new perioperative block will bring day unit recovery, preadmissions, endoscopy, minor surgeries and pediatric recovery into the same area, rerouting what those involved call "the patient journey" into an easy flow.
The new block has gleaming vinyl floors and easy-to-clean walls painted in calming shades of olive green and delicate blue chosen by the designer and staff.
The day-care rooms, including a blood transfusion room and one that can be gated for children, lie empty waiting for beds, equipment and people fill up the quiet space.
Elsewhere, workmen are still polishing the stainless steel equipment, or working on areas such as reception which still needs 20 seats or under the floors.
Today workman will install two new sterilisers and a waste transfer machine into a large room on the eastern end of the building at $270,000 these represent the single largest investment made on it, Mr Walden said.
Of the four operating theatres, one already has its lights and pendants fitted, recently transferred from one of the old theatre sets.
Weighing in at 150kg, the lights are supported by a steel structure spanning the entire area of the room's roof, a structure that was strong enough to hold a bus, Mr Walden said.
The lights had caused a few challenges to the construction team, as the supporting structure had had to match that of the old theatres exactly, without being able to take down the lights to measure them.
The problem was solved by finding the original drawings and consulting the installer as to how it had been done.
Although the lights and equipment came from the old theatres, most of the fittings were new, so existing theatres could still be used while the new ones were built.
The theatre would be operational by November 26, but surgery would not be performed there until December 7 part of a three-step phase-in process that would begin within the next three weeks.
Reception and the day unit recovery would move in first, on December 3, with patients taken there from the old theatres to recover from surgery or going there before theatre for preadmission.
The sterile supply area would kick in on December 10, dirty and sterilized equipment moving between the new building and the old theatres until the new theatres were up and running.
From December 18, two more of the theatres would be up and running, the fourth ready after the New Year, Mr Walden said.
"We are really delighted how [the new building] has ended up, the staff seem very pleased with what they've got."
n For more pictures and facts about the new perioperative block, see features this Saturday.
PICTURED: Whanganui District Health Board strategic developments general manager Brian Walden checks out one of the new theatre rooms of the new surgical block, which will be ready for use within a fortnight.