138 | COMMUNITY Waikato DHB: Renal Building Project Acute Adult Inpatient Facility T T Kim Newth New facilities significant for Waikato The new purpose-built, high-tech centre is expected be completed by late December 2024. “This will enable us to deliver all our outpatient services within one dedicated building, with a range of specialists on site, as the renal services will be all together. The new regional centre will be the first step on our journey to improve delivery of dialysis for patients across the region.” Construction of the new Te Pureoranga - Waikato Regional Renal Centre is advancing well on site at the Waiora Waikato hospital campus in Hamilton. In a recent project update, Health New Zealand indicated the new purpose-built, hightech centre is expected be completed by late December 2024, with the service then moving in by early 2025. Fosters is leading construction on the ground. With the new building having reached weather-tightness in May, work is now progressing on the interior fit-out and services. The new centre is the first stage of a wider building programme that also includes a new, 64-bed adult acute mental health inpatient facility, with the Government giving the goahead on funding for both projects in July 2022. Joint Ministers approved additional funding to cover a rise in procurement costs in September 2023, bringing the total budget to $175.6 million, (being $131.2m for the mental health facility, and $44.4m for the Waikato Regional Renal Centre). A sod-turning ceremony in April 2023 marked the start of the new regional renal centre build, near the main entry on the southern side of the Waiora Waikato hospital campus. Once completed, this modern new facility will provide 53 chairs for renal patients - 43 hospital-based dialysis chairs and 10 home-training chairs. “The new unit will give us a long-term home, which meets international standards for our patients who are on dialysis,” says Dr Andrew Henderson, Health New Zealand Medical Director of Cancer and Chronic Conditions for Waikato. “This will enable us to deliver all our outpatient services within one dedicated building, with a range of specialists on site, as the renal services will be all together. The new regional centre will be the first step on our journey to improve delivery of dialysis for patients across the region.” The name ‘Te Pureoranga’ describes the process and outcome of renal services - where patients and whānau access critical life-saving services with the aspiration that their sacred rite to purification and the restoration of their wellbeing would be achieved in both physical and spiritual realms. The new building, which is in step with Australasian health facility design guidelines, was designed by Chow: Hill Architects in collaboration with Te Haa and clinical leaders to create a safe, therapeutic and culturally appropriate environment. Built to modern standards - including Greenstar 5 - the new centre will be fitted out with the latest clinical technology and equipment. Included in the layout are training facilities and separate consult rooms. Once built, it is expected that around 110 staff will move to the new facility. Renal patients often require renal services for months, or even years, and may need to spend several hours a week in the renal centre. Not only will this new centre provide specialist services and wrap-around care in one space, but it will also provide a tranquil and soothing setting for patients. Landscaping has been developed as part of the final designs, with interior theming developed to provide connectivity to nature. Meanwhile, in the first quarter of 2025, work will start on the demolition of Waikato’s old renal centre, making way for the new adult acute mental health inpatient facility at Waiora Waikato Hospital, representing a big step forward from the current Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre. The new facility has been designed to provide a welcoming and therapeutic environment for people experiencing mental illness and seeking wellness (tangata whaiora), in line with modern adult acute health-plan standards and incorporating key cultural elements. Te Haa has again played a key role in the co-design. Health New Zealand Regional Director Hospital and Specialist Services for Te Manawa Taki, Chris Lowry, describes both facilities as very significant developments that will make a real difference in how people can be supported in the region. “The successful and timely delivery of this large building programme is important for Waikato.” L o r d & C o Proudly SupportingWaikato DHB · Commercial & Industrial · Rural · Tennis Courts · Residential
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=