Many hospitals ‘not fit for purpose’

More than one fifth of Auckland and Northland hospitals, including the country’s leading children’s hospital, are considered ‘‘not fit for purpose’’, a report says.

The hospitals currently serve about one third of the New Zealand population and more than half a million more people are expected to move into the area in the next 20 years.

The recently released Northern Region Long Term Investment Plan was created with input from the four northern district health boards.

Health Minister David Clark said it was a ‘‘valuable piece of work’’ that identified potential responses to meeting investment challenges across the region long term.

The report found that 18.5 per cent of all buildings were rated as being in ‘‘poor’’ or ‘‘very poor’’ condition and it was estimated that more than one fifth of clinical services were operating from buildings ‘‘not fit for purpose for current models of care’’.

These buildings included Starship children’s hospital, Whangarei Hospital, North Shore Hospital’s medical tower block, and Middlemore Hospital’s Galbraith building. They were identified as being near or beyond their life expectancy.

The report did not explain the problems with the buildings, but it was reported earlier this year that Middlemore Hospital buildings were leaky and mould was growing in the walls.

Clinical equipment was also an issue as maintenance was deferred and much of it was nearing or had exceeded its expected life.

Facilities at Northland DHB were considered the worst of all with 12.8 per cent ‘‘very poor’’, 10.4 per cent ‘‘poor’’ and 47.9 per cent just ‘‘average’’.

Northland DHB general manager Meng Cheong said yesterday that priorities over the past few years had been on investing in additional capacity and clinical equipment because of rising demand. The hospitals were safe and well maintained but in need of an upgrade or replacement to allow modern delivery of services.

Counties Manukau Health facilities were next with 9 per cent ‘‘very poor’’ and 12.3 per cent ‘‘poor’’.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Clark announced a $224 million investment for North Shore and Whangarei hospitals on Friday, coinciding with the release of the report.

It would include 120 additional elective surgery beds and four new operating theatres for North Shore Hospital. Whangarei Hospital would receive new endoscopy and cardiac care facilities.

Clark said this investment would allow for further capacity to be added as demand increased.

The report said current facilities needed to be expanded and another site needed to be built to provide capacity for this future demand.

It said expanding Waita¯kere Hospital in West Auckland was a key investment in the short to medium term.

It would meet the needs of people in the area and reduce congestion at North Shore and Auckland hospitals.

Building a new acute hospital with 350-400 beds south of the city centre was in the plans for the next 15 years. The new site would service the Counties Manukau area as well as people from Waikato who may be closer to it than Waikato Hospital.