$45m for youth hospital
Construction of Wellington’s new children’s hospital has begun with the news it will receive a $45.6 million funding boost from taxpayers.
Health Minister David Clark committed funding to the project – fast tracked by a $50m donation by businessman Mark Dunajtschik – at a mauri stone laying ceremony yesterday to mark the start of construction.
Eddie Writes, 6, assisted in the ceremony.
He was born with a severe respiratory condition and needed several surgeries as an infant in order to be able to breathe unassisted.
His mum Emily Writes said the hospital needed to be better than it was now.
‘‘The staff are incredible but the facilities need improving.’’
She had to sleep on the floor at Eddie’s bedside when he was in hospital.
Improvements such as pulldown beds for parents meant a lot. ‘‘It was exhausting and emotional,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s a terribly stressful time having a child in hospital, so anything that makes that easier is just wonderful.’’
Clark said the Government wanted to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child.
‘‘Health services and facilities like this new hospital play a vital role in delivering this vision’’.
Even though Dunajtschik’s donation was ‘‘incredibly generous’’, the taxpayer needed to contribute ‘‘a little’’ to make sure the hospital was built to the right standards.
Dunajtschik had expressed some frustration dealing with government bureaucracy, as well as indicating some conflict with early contractors.
Clark said he was aware of the tensions.
‘‘I’ve got some awareness of changing company involvement.’’
Regarding bureaucracy, he said government had to walk a ‘‘careful line’’ to defend taxpayer interest.
‘‘We’ve got to . . . make sure the taxpayer is getting a building that is fit for purpose. That’s been a constructive tension, if I can put it like that, and [Dunajtschik] has been very patient.’’
The current hospital was almost 30 years old, with services located in different parts of the regional hospital, Clark said.
‘‘This is not ideal for children or families who are already going through a stressful time, nor for hospital staff who want to provide the best service for their patients,’’ he said.
‘‘This new, purpose-built hospital will provide these services under one roof.’’
It did not increase the capacity of the hospital, but upgraded its facilities.
Details of the hospital’s resource consent, made public last year, revealed it would be a practical, four-level glass building that would sit on the northern site of the hospital’s existing campus in Newtown.
The Government’s contribution to the new hospital will come from the $750m allocated to health sector capital investment in Budget 2018.