Surgical Expansion Project |

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is upgrading and expanding Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s surgical services to increase the number of public surgeries the DHB undertakes each year and improve patient experience.

The upgrade includes:

Building an additional theatre, taking the total number of operating theatres to eight.
An upgraded reception area with a new whānau room.
The renovations will improve patient flow through theatre, from the time of pre-admission through to discharge, and the efficiency of operations through the layout of pre and post-operative areas.
Building dedicated pharmacy and specimen handling rooms.
Seismic upgrades of the theatre block to ensure it is immediately operational in the event of an earthquake or other disaster.

Construction programme

Hawkins Construction were appointed to undertake the upgrade and are building in nine stages. Below is a high-level schedule of construction.

Stage one (completed September 2021): Seismic strengthening; building a link bridge between the top floor of Ruakopito (the hospital’s gastroentology and endoscopy services building) and the theatre block to access new change rooms and staff facilities; building a dedicated pharmacy room, theatre storage and stairs joining the link bridge; and expanding the IT Hub Room in the roof space.
Stage two (started May 2021, runs for approximately nine months): Demolition of the existing staff change rooms and, in its place, building the new pre and post-operative unit.
Stage three (completed July 2021): Convert the old gift shop at the main entrance to the hospital in to the Orderlies base.
Stage four (started September 2021, runs for approximately six months): Demolition of the existing staff tea room and theatre tutorial. Later in the project this space will become theatre eight but in the meantime will be used as sterile storage for theatre whilst we undertake work in Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD).
Stage five (started September 2021, runs for approximately seven months): Convert the current Orderlies base and part of the cleaners area near the hospital kitchen in to additional space for CSSD to house their offices and loan store.
Stage six (due to start March 2022 and run for approximately nine months): Refurbishment of the acute entrance to theatre, expansion and refurbishment of the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) formerly known as Recovery. During this time PACU will relocate to the newly built pre and post-operative unit.
Stage seven (due to start April 2022 and run for approximately seven months): Refurbishment and modification of CSSD.
Stage eight (due to start December 2022 and run for approximately five months): Refurbishment and modifications to the Perioperative Unit’s inwards goods, medical records reception and waiting areas.
Stage nine: Stage three (expected to take approximately five months and is expected to be complete mid-2023): Theatre eight.

Please note that dates are indicative only and are subject to change. We are working closely with staff and patients to minimise disruption as much as possible and ensure safety.