Hospital’s $5m ward project
A ward extension at Manuka Street hospital will see its capacity grow to keep up with the demands of an ageing population.
The $5 million development at Manuka Street Hospital’s is half way complete, with work expected to be finished before the end of the year.
Manuka Street Hospital clinical nurse manager Kerry Lineham said the hospital’s ward extension would benefit patients and improve the care they received.
It would take the hospital from 19 to 22 beds, with new rooms and improved flow within the hospital.
Lineham has worked at Manuka Street for the last four and a half years, leading about 40 nursing staff and working closely with the surgeons and anaesthetists.
‘‘The extension will deliver a new dedicated patient and visitor lounge, a purpose-built consultation room for specialists to assess patients before their surgery, and a new reception area,’’ Lineham said.
‘‘There will also be a new covered entranceway that will make it much safer and easier for patients to enter and leave the hospital in the wet – especially those who’ve undergone orthopaedic procedures such as a joint replacement.’’
Lineham is one of eight males with nurse practitioner status, which makes him one of the most advanced clinical nurse practitioners working in nursing in New Zealand.
He said a new four-bed, ‘‘close watch’’ facility would enable staff to keep a close eye on patients as they recovered.
‘‘What we’re seeing as the population ages is more patients with multiple health issues, not just the one they’re in hospital having surgery for. That means they’re at greater risk of complications and need a higher level of care and observation to help them recover successfully after a stressful operation.’’
The ward extension would not only increase the patient capacity, but would bring huge benefits in layout, efficiency and flow with all beds being within 30 metres of the monitoring station, Lineham said.
‘‘The combination of the improved layout and the extra beds also means we have greater capacity to accept more patients, reducing the time they’ll wait for surgery.’’
The hospital opened in the early 1900s and has been on its current site since 1966.
The hospital is jointly owned by Southern Cross Hospitals Ltd and the Manuka Street Charitable Trust.
Around 70 per cent of the operations performed at Manuka Street Hospital are orthopaedic procedures, but doctors also perform urological, otolaryngology (ENT), gynaecology, oral maxillofacial, endoscopy and general surgery.