Building Programme

Waikato District Health Board’s Building Programme involves several new building projects, major refurbishment of facilities and significant changes in the way services are provided at Waikato and Thames hospitals. The $430 million project began in 2005 and is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Latest campus mapBuilding update - May 2011Building update - February 2011Building update - December 2010

Waiora Waikato Campus

Many projects form the Building Programme at the Waiora Waikato Campus, which includes Waikato Hospital, the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre and Older Persons and Rehabilition Building. Current projects include: The Meade Clinical Centre Laboratory refurbishment Older Persons and Rehabilitation Regional Renal Centre Completed projects include: Pembroke St Carpark Building Thames Birthing Unit Acute Services, including Emergency Midland Regional Forensic upgrade Carpark and main entry building Roading upgrade Delivery Suite refurbishment Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) extension

Masterplan Strategy IntroductionSite plansSite analysis diagramsFloor plansHospital views from north east - current, 2013 and beyond 2025

News and media releases

Ian Wolstencroft Building Programme Director

New carpark building opens at Waikato Hospital Thames Birthing Unit opens New wards open at Waikato Hospital's Acute Services Building Acute Services Building handed over More parking for Waikato Hospital New emergency blessed, opening date set Laboratory upgrade underway Truckloads of concrete draws hospital crowds Work to start on Thames Birthing Unit Time in hospital helps Wolstencroft now Changes to emergency department drop-off parking A new start for forensic service, patients Waikato adds dedicated elective theatres to building plans Blessing before demolition at Waikato Hospital

Meade Clinical Centre

Construction timeframe: February 2010 – October 2014 The $130 million Meade Clinical Centre is the most significant part of Waikato Hospital's building programme and the biggest hospital project ever seen in Waikato and Bay of Plenty. The five-level 32,000m2 building will be parallel to the south side of the hospital’s red corridor and link directly onto the carpark at three levels. Most outpatient clinics will be inside along with the interventional suite, same day admissions unit and additional theatres. The hospital's critical care unit including intensive care and high dependency unit will move into level four. The scope of work also includes demolition of the Smith Building and refurbishment of two levels in the Waiora Waikato Centre. The building will open in three stages from mid 2012 with full completion by the end of 2014. Visit the photo gallery to see construction progress images of the Meade Clinical Centre. Newsletter Issue 2 - December 2011 Issue 1 - November 2011

Construction update: 25 January 2011

Temporary red corridor

While construction is underway on the clinical centre, a temporary red corridor allows patients, visitors and hospital staff get around the building site.

Starting by the main carpark building, the corridor cuts through old office space and travels outside the northern side of the Menzies Building, entering back into the hospital at Level 1 by Cardiac Care.

It is clearly signposted and still allows access to all the same hospital services.

Help is also available for patients and visitors who are unsure where to go.

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Laboratory refurbishment

Construction timeframe: November 2010 – February 2012

The $4.5million refurbishment of Waikato Hospital’s main laboratory began in November 2010.

The work involves seven stages of work, starting with old office and Histology/Cytology lab space – Histology and Cytology moved to new purpose built premises above the pharmacy in 2009.

The refurbishment will increase the space available of the lab, allowing for more streamlined processes and new equipment.

A Physical Containment (PC) 3 laboratory room with negative pressure to stop the spread of infectious diseases will also be established in the L3 Waiora Waikato Centre area.

Pembroke Street Carpark Building

Opened January 2012

 

Located opposite the new Emergency Department, this new five-level building will have space for 218 vehicles and a cafe.

Acute Services and the Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services buildings will relocate more than 200 beds to the western side of the Waikato Hospital campus.

For the DHB to meet resource consent requirements, additional parking must be provided over that side so a second carpark building is required.

Visit the photo gallery to see construction progress images.

Older Persons and Rehabilitation 

Construction update: 17 January 2012

Construction timeframe: November 2011 - June 2013 The Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services building will have 113 beds for geriatric care, ortho-geriatrics, Organised Stroke Service and Mental Health for Older Persons. People aged under 65 and requiring rehabilitation will also be accommodated in the building. Significant outdoor areas and courtyard space are both part of the plans. Construction also includes a bridge over Pembroke Street to link the building with the main hospital. Visit the photo gallery to see construction progress images.

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Regional Renal Centre (The former Lions Cancer Lodge)

Construction timeframe: 16th January - 26 November 2012

Visit the Renal Medicine web page for more information

 

Thames Birthing Unit

Opened September 2011 

Construction of Thames Birthing Unit is complete and it opened doors for business on 7 September 2011.  Brand new facilities, private rooms and relaxing outdoor areas are just some of the exciting improvements that Thames-Coromandel women can look forward to using. With three bedrooms, two birthing rooms, a birthing pool, a breastfeeding room and lounge facilities, Thames Birthing Unit is an inviting place for women to give birth. State-of-the-art facility opens for women

 

Each bedroom and birthing room has its own ensuite.

Thames Birthing Unit is a primary birthing facility, for natural, low-risk births under midwifery care.

Visit the Thames Birthing Unit page for more information.

Acute Services Building, including Emergency Department

Opened July 2011

Construction of levels two and three of Waikato Hospital’s new $48 million Acute Services Building in Hamilton is complete. Watch the video.

This modern purpose built facility with leading-edge technology, new equipment, enhanced privacy and security features is home also to Emergency Department, which opened in February, as well as Medical Records on the lower ground floor.

• Andrew McRae from Radio New Zealand has a look around Waikato Hospital's new Acute Services Building.

The new ED opened 8 February, for more information visit the new emergency page.

Old wards 5, 22, 23, and the Medical Short Stay Unit moved into the new facility

Handover of the building to the Waikato District Health Board from Fletcher Construction was on 4 June 2011.

Wards 5, 22, 23, and the Medical Short Stay Unit will move into the new facility.
Watch this video of the new building.

• Acute Medical Unit - Level 2  has 26 beds and provide three separate functions: acute assessments, short stay (was Medical Short Stay Unit), and chest pain unit which will open in September.
• Ward A2 - Level 2 (was Ward 22 respiratory) has 25 beds
• Ward A3 - Level 3 (was Ward 23 general medicine) has 25 beds
• Ward A4 - Level 3 (was Ward 5 general medicine) has 25 beds

Getting ready for Acute Services

L2 and L3 Acute Services Building

Getting around the construction

Pedestrian access into the Waiora Waikato Centre and Emergency Department is off Pembroke Street but all visitors are encouraged to enter Waikato Hospital through Gate 1 off Pembroke Street and follow the signs to the carpark building.

From there, you can catch a shuttle from Level B5.

Forensic upgrade – Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre

Opened August 2010

The project involved three key tasks:

• Refurbishment of three forensic wards
• Construction of two new buildings – a Whare and Kokiri Centre – and a retaining wall
• Construction of a new, secure main entrance for the service.
  

Forensic mental health is assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals who are part of the criminal justice system and experiencing mental health difficulties.

This type of care is provided in the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre where patients can stay for long periods of time so the facilities must meet their individual and cultural needs.

The refurbished and new facilities allow the forensic service to provide better clinical and cultural care in a safer and more appropriate environment.

The work allows the centre to deliver a more comprehensive patient care journey starting with acute admission, sub acute, care and rehabilitation in a variety secure environments. Service users move through these areas/wards as they are rehabilitated, with their treatment to be completed in the Transition House before returning home.

The Whare and Kokiri Centre focus on culturally appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. The Whare is for cultural activities and meetings; and the Kokiri Centre is for rehabilitation activities including cooking, carving, art, computer skills and carpentry.

More information about Puawai, the Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service.

Refurbished forensic ward (31):

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Main entry and carpark building

Opened 2008

Located at the eastern side of the campus, the building is the primary parking area for the public. It is open 24 hours a day, can hold over 800 vehicles and provides direct access into the main hospital buildings.

Currently, the carpark building is a fair distance from the clinic or ward you are visiting. This is only a temporary measure. When the clinical centre opens in 2013 all clinics and day procedures will be housed in the centre which will link directly onto the carpark building.

In the meantime, you can catch a ride to your destination on one of the hospital shuttles that depart every 10-20 minutes on weekdays from Level B5 of the carpark and main entry building.

• Parking information and charges
• Shuttle information

Roadworks

To provide easy access into the hospital and other facilities a new through-road was constructed at Waikato Hospital. This is now the route that all visitors and patients use with entry and exit through Gate 1 off Pembroke Street.

The Hamilton City Orbiter bus also travels along this road now stopping outside the new carpark building instead of on Pembroke Street.

Bus timetables

Delivery Suite and Women's Assessment Unit

Opened January 2009 

The refurbishment of Waikato Hospital's Delivery Suite was the first for the area since it opened in 1979.

The revamped facility, located at level B3 Elizabeth Rothwell Building, provides a much more comfortable environment for women to give birth in.

The delivery suite now consist of seven larger and more private birthing rooms with natural light, soundproofing, modern décor, one entry and exit door and ensuite bathrooms with showers.

The Women's Assessment Unit, next to the Delivery Suite, is for pregnant women not in active labour or requiring high dependency care and post-natal care. The unit is a 24 hour acute and semi-acute service for women.

Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Opened February 2009 The new unit is an extension out from the old premises with a new level above the delivery suite. The new premises are four times larger with greater patient capacity and more space for staff and visiting family. Some of the nurseries overlook the Hamilton Lake, a view parents and family members will appreciate after spending weeks, sometimes months in the unit. The old NICU area has also undergone refurbishment to create a new reception area and temporary accommodation rooms for parents of newborns in the unit.

Thames Hospital

The upgrade of Thames Hospital was completed in 2008 and the new buildings were officially opened in February 2009, this included:

• Sperry Lane Café, a new hospital kitchen and dining area
• Thames Clinical Centre construction, to house emergency department, radiology and outpatients
• Inpatient Unit construction, to house the hospital wards and a high acuity unit.

Work is now underway on a new primary birthing facility for the region.

Thames Birthing Unit will be located opposite the Thames Clinical Centre entrance at 412 Mary Street when it opens early 2011.

Thames Clinical Centre	Thames Inpatient Unit