Fletcher’s hospital delays ‘unacceptable’
Fletcher Building’s endless delays in finishing a new base hospital for the West Coast are unacceptable, according to the new DHB chairman, Rick Barker.
Fletchers began construction at the Greymouth site in 2016, and the $77.8 million building was supposed to open almost two years ago. The cost has now risen to almost $91m. Going by the latest estimates, it could be April 2020 or even later before the much-needed hospital is finally signed off.
Several DHB members told Barker at their December meeting that it was frustrating to have no control over a project that was costing the board money and affecting its ability to offer a good service to the community. Others said they accepted the DHB had no power to solve the problem, and it was up to the Ministry of Health and Fletchers to sort out, via their contract.
‘‘I don’t want anyone to accept this. This is unacceptable,’’ Barker said.
‘‘We need to make it clear to those responsible we are unhappy and they need to do something about it, not be under any illusion we accept it.’’
The DHB has said the delay in opening the new building is costing it $50,000 a month.
Grey Base Hospital was having to repair old equipment which could not be replaced until the new hospital opened, and the unbudgeted maintenance bill was at $30,000 and climbing.
‘‘This is putting at risk our ability to offer a quality health service to West Coast people,’’ DHB chief executive David Meates said.
Doctors have also said that staff and patients in parts of the old Grey Base hospital are at ongoing risk in a building only 16 per cent earthquake strengthened, in the most seismic zone in New Zealand.
Former Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove, who chairs the government’s West Coast Partnership Group, said he shared Barker’s
frustration. Fletchers had not once met a reporting deadline and there was little scope in the contract framed under the previous National government, to force it to lift its game, Cosgrove said. ‘‘We are doing all we can for the taxpayer to put pressure on the company by enforcing liquidation damages and the delays are costing them but clearly not enough to motivate them to speed up.’’
Labour’s West Coast-Tasman MP, Damien O’Connor, said he had recently asked Health Minister David Clark to speak to Fletchers about the delays, and he had done so. ‘‘At this point Fletchers are the only ones who can finish the job. They are the ones swinging the hammers.’’
Fletchers did not respond to a request for comment.