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Blenheim's Emergency Department Moves to New Site

As of tomorrow (16/02), Wairau Hospital Emergency Department will be accessed from Gate 2 off Hospital Rd, after their move to new premises in the hospital redevelopment.

Not all of the 370 people who flocked to the preview afternoon, last Wednesday, recognised the Arthur Wicks building that previously housed the surgical ward. However all gave their unreserved approval of new-look Emergency Department, High Dependency Unit and Acute Assessment Unit.

From 11am, Tuesday, February 16 the new department will be operating from the new location. The After Hours Doctors Surgery is also accessed from Gate 2, Hospital Rd and is located in a yellow building close to the Emergency Department.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, District Manager Medical Services, Lindsey Bates said, "The building is ready and so are the staff. The clinical staff have had major input into the design and layout of the areas and so far we are pleased with the facility. Even with the new facility we need to keep the number of people presenting to the Emergency Department down and we therefore ask people with non-life threatening illness or injury to consult their GP or the after hours GP clinic."

Wairau Hospital, Emergency Department, Charge Nurse Manager, Sharon North said, "We are pleased with the new premises and we ask that people be patient over the next few days as we settle in. As always we will see people on the basis of "Worst in, First Served", and this may mean that some people with minor illness or injury wait to be seen. If you are in this category we would prefer that you see your GP or after hours GP clinic."

NMDHB Chief Operating Officer, Keith Rusholme said, "We are pleased to get to the stage that Emergency staff can move in to the reconfigured Arthur Wicks building. Emergency staff have been in the one of the oldest parts of the hospital which did not support modern technology or models of care. This new facility is a tribute to staff and how hard they have worked in a less than ideal environment."

Project Timeline

Enabling (demolition/preparation of the site) works commence	April 2008
Preliminary Design Complete	June 2008
Construction Design Complete (Phase 1 user groups – New Build)	July 2008
New build construction commences	September 2008
Refurbishment of other areas commence	May 2009
All construction complete	February 2011