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"The investment in these new facilities at Waikato Hospital is one of 32 major building projects in the public health system begun or completed by the Labour-led Government, with more on the way," Helen Clark said.

Helen Clark said that the Government is very committed to continuing to invest in the facilities, staff, and services of the public health system.

"More than $1.5 billion has been invested in major capital projects in the public health system since 1999. Major projects approved in the nine years prior to 1999 amounted to less than one-third of the investment we have since made in this area.

"Seven new hospitals have been built since 2000. Eight hospital campuses have had major refurbishments or been significantly redeveloped since 2000.

"In addition, ten specialist facilities have been built; three more redevelopment projects are almost complete; and a further four major capital projects for hospital redevelopments have been approved and are underway.

"The Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding, and providing health and disability support services for more than 350,000 people. It has an annual turnover of $915 million and employs more than 5,000 people.

"These are big numbers. But at the heart of the public health system is one person - the patient, and one objective - providing the best possible service," Helen Clark said.

David Cunliffe said that Hutt Valley DHB had recently gained approval for a plan to spend more than $80 million redeveloping its Accident and Emergency Department and theatres.

"The Government's investment in new facilities and refurbishment has benefited patients from Kaitaia to Bluff and almost every region in between.

"Since 1999 the capital programme for the public health system has been very comprehensive. It is dealing with demographic pressures in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, substantially rebuilding a number of regional hospitals, and also providing a network of modern mental health facilities around the country," David Cunliffe said.

The Prime Minister's speech notes for the opening are here.

Background information

 New buildings

1. Seven hospitals have been built since the year 2000, as follows:

• Auckland Hospital, Auckland DHB - $447M, major rebuild of base hospital Opened in late 2003
• Southland Hospital, Invercargill - $69.7M, new base hospital, opened in late 2004
• Wairarapa Hospital, Masterton - $29.5M, new base hospital, completed in March 2006
• Christchurch Women's Hospital - $80M, new hospital on new site, opened in March 2005
• Hawera, South Taranaki - $6.0M, opened in March 2002. A 26 bed hospital with 21 inpatient beds, four maternity beds, a fully equipped birthing room, 24-hour emergency department (ED) and after hours general practitioner (GP) care, outpatient and community services
• Dunstan, Central Otago - $7.6M, opened in June 2005. Essentially a new hospital made possible by Crown funding. Owned by the Otago DHB but operated by a community trust. Services include emergency, inpatient medical beds, maternity and community services, visiting specialists
• Horowhenua Health Centre and hospital - $16.1M, opened in June 2007. Provides hospital and primary health care services, including GPs, pharmacy, laboratory and radiology care.

 Hospitals refurbished

2. Eight hospital campuses have had major refurbishments or have been significantly redeveloped, since the year 2000, as follows:

• Burwood Hospital redevelopment, Canterbury DHB - $21.5M. Key components included operating suite of four theatres, recovery area including an eight bed post anaesthetic care unit, post-operative orthopaedic ward facility and enhancement of orthopaedic outpatients
• Kenepuru Hospital redevelopment, Capital and Coast DHB (part of larger regional hospital redevelopment project, see paragraph 8 below). The redevelopment included a paediatric assessment unit, child development unit; extension of the radiology facility, Allied Health facilities for outpatients and specialist rehabilitation, expanded outpatient services and new facilities for the psychogeriatric service
• Kaitaia Hospital, Northland DHB - $11.9M. Included new GP centre, day surgery, renovated maternity unit, renovated and upgraded general ward, new accident and medical centre and a new after-hours facility
• Waitakere and North Shore Hospitals, Waitemata DHB - $125M. Major development and redevelopment of both campuses, focusing on acute personal health care facilities
• Nelson Hospital, Nelson-Marlborough DHB, $35M (approved prior to 1999)
• Palmerston North Hospital, MidCentral DHB, $55M campus upgrade (approved prior to 1999)
• Counties Manukau facilities modernisation programme, this included the new Kidz First children's hospital and major improvements to ED, Counties Manukau DHB, $160M.

Redevelopment projects

3. Three redevelopment projects are almost complete. These are:

• Whanganui Hospital, Whanganui DHB - $33.8M. Focused on redeveloping hospital to integrate and consolidate services, enable the DHB to deliver new, modern models of care, and to meet current seismic code requirements
• Core consolidation projects, Counties Manukau DHB - $64.9M and $39.8M. Involves a significant upgrade of the previous poor hospital facilities.
• The redevelopment of Tauranga hospital (Bay of Plenty DHB) has been substantially completed ($139.3M).

 4. A further five major capital projects for hospital redevelopments have been approved and are currently underway. One project is awaiting final approval.

• Capital and Coast Regional Hospital, Capital and Coast DHB - $346M (includes Kenepuru hospital redevelopment now competed)
• Hutt Hospital, Hutt Valley DHB - $81.9M. Includes new theatres, emergency department, parking, utilities and infrastructure development (most recent redevelopment).
• Wairau Hospital, Nelson-Marlborough DHB - $36.7M. This consolidates the hospital into a compact, flexible health operation that meets seismic and other code compliance requirements and enables delivery of modern models of care. Includes new ED, ambulatory care and medical imaging facilities.
• Lakes Health Services Improvement Project, Lakes DHB - major redevelopment of Rotorua Hospital and Taupo Hospital, $51.3M
• Waikato and Thames Hospitals, Waikato DHB, $214.9M.

New specialist facilities

5. Ten specialist units have been built or redeveloped using Crown equity or new lending since the year 2000, including:

• dementia unit, West Coast DHB - $3.8M
• breast screening unit, Waitemata DHB - $3.3M
• breast screening unit, Waikato DHB - $0.7M
• high containment laboratory for drug resistant organisms, pandemic or bioterrorism samples, Canterbury DHB - $0.9M
• burns unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Counties Manukau DHB - $42.0M
• Intellectual Disability Secure Services Unit, Capital and Coast DHB - $6.5M
• Regional Intellectual Disability Secure Services Unit, Waitemata DHB - $8.6M
• Forensic Mental Health Unit, Waitemata DHB - $6.3M
• Te Atarau medium secure Mental Health unit, Waitemata DHB - $14.8M

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