34 | Karen Phelps New renal unit part of major upgrade The newly commissioned Renal Unit is one element of a major redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Te Whatu Ora - Taranaki: Leighs Construction - Project Maunga Seeing the first patients arriving to receive their treatment at the newly commissioned Renal Unit at Taranaki Base Hospital gave the Project Maunga Stage 2 team a real sense of achievement. “It’s an exciting moment for any project when the construction is complete, and we can handover a new facility to our clinicians. When you consider the difference this amazing new facility will make to the patient experience and to support our clinicians to provide the best healthcare they can, this contribution is particularly satisfying for our team,” says Programme Director Jesse Jardine. The Renal Unit is one element in the redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital. Work has commenced on the New East Wing Building (NEWB), a 20,000m2 six storey clinical services building housing the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Maternity, Primary Birthing, Neonatal, Radiology and Laboratory with a roof top helipad. A new Energy Centre, computer room and upgraded support and infrastructure services are near completion and will better support the region in the event of an emergency. Head contractor on the NEWB, Renal Unit and Energy Centre projects is Leighs Construction. Construction of a new integrated Cancer Centre is also due to commence later this year. It will house a new linear accelerator (LINAC) – which uses radiation to destroy cancer cells while leaving surrounding tissue undamaged – ten chairs and two single isolation rooms for chemotherapy, eight outpatient consult rooms with video conferencing capability and accessible facilities, along with staff offices and amenities. The integration of cancer treatment services means that Taranaki patients will no longer have to attend their appointments at multiple locations and facilities. It will also mean most of the more than 300 Taranaki people each year who require radiation treatment will no longer have to journey to Palmerston North and approximately 80% of cancer patients in the region can have all of their treatment locally, apart from one planning visit to Palmerston North. Taranaki’s Mental Health Services are also being upgraded with refurbishment of the inpatient ward underway and a new four bed Intensive Rehabilitation Unit in the design phase. Sustainability is a key element for Project Maunga, with the design for NEWB recently being awarded a 5 Green Star Design NZ v1.0 Certified Design Review Rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) – the first public health facility in Aotearoa to do so. Alongside this NEWB is aiming for 5 Green Star As Built Certification. The Renal Unit is targeting Net Zero Energy certification and Carbon Zero certification, meaning that over a year, the building will use as much energy as it generates and that the building contributes to the decarbonisation of the environment. The Cancer Centre is also working towards 5 Green Star rating for both design and build phases. These accreditations mean that the design and construction of these buildings have strong sustainability principles ingrained. Reduced energy and water consumption, improved indoor environments (natural light, thermal comfort and air quality), sustainable materials and reduced impact on the surrounding environments are key parts of the designs. Not only will this mean that the buildings will reduce Te Whatu Ora’s carbon and energy footprint and align with Carbon Free 2050, it is also expected to have a significant benefit to staff, patient and whānau wellbeing. ““Sustainability has been an important consideration for Project Maunga from the outset of the project,” says Jesse. “The accreditations we are targeting will go further than demonstrating energy efficiency or decarbonisation, important though those are. It is also vital these buildings perform well when they become operational, and that we deliver an environment that contributes to the well-being of hospital staff and a positive patient experience.” The Taranaki Health Foundation (THF) is a non-profit organisation that helps provide the best healthcare possible. THF is targeting $25 million to support Project Maunga – its largest campaign to date, which will be used across the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal, Maternity and Radiology departments to make a patient’s clinical journey the best it can be. COMMUNICATIONS Proudly part of the Aotea Group Proud to support Te Whatu Ora & the Project Maunga
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=