Health Minister Simeon Brown said the investment was aimed at providing resilient hospitals (file photo).
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
The government has announced a $100 million boost to upgrade clinical spaces and key infrastructure at hospitals across the country.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the investment was aimed at providing resilient hospitals that could deliver timely and high-quality care, but Labour said the announcement was a “reannouncement” of funding already in the budget, and it was for routine maintenance and upgrades hospitals required all the time.
The upgrades programme would be delivered through two streams.
The first stream composed of 21 local projects across the country, aimed at expanding and modernising clinical spaces, and supporting services, and the second was a remediation programme focused on strengthening infrastructure and reducing the risk of disruption to clinical services.
Upgrades would factor in local priorities and would include:
Increased clinical space in emergency departments
New transit lounges
Additional clinical spaces
Laboratory refurbishments
Additional car parking
“At Manukau Health Park, a new oncology infusion centre will almost double treatment capacity and improve access to cancer care for the Counties Manukau community,” Brown said. “With more infusion chairs, consultation rooms and support services, the centre will also expand beyond breast cancer to provide treatments for conditions such as respiratory and bowel cancers.
“Every project will make a real difference for patients and staff – whether that means shorter emergency waits, faster cancer treatment, more timely elective surgery or improved access to services.”
The government is delivering $100m to accelerate improvements across New Zealand’s hospital.
Photo: Health New Zealand
Meanwhile, the remediation programme focused on the basic infrastructure within the hospitals.
“These works will strengthen the critical infrastructure that keeps hospitals safe and reliable – including heating, power, hot water, and air conditioning. By tackling urgent risks and building resilience, we are ensuring hospitals can deliver the care New Zealanders rely on, every hour of every day.”
These small-scale upgrades come alongside longer-term hospital projects, such as Nelson and Wellington, Brown said.
Most of the projects were scheduled to be completed in 2026, but some would extend into 2027.
“This is practical, targeted investment that will improve patient flow, support frontline staff, strengthen resilience and help us deliver on our health targets,” Brown said.
“We are delivering the hospital infrastructure New Zealanders need – now and for future generations.”
‘Routine upgrade’
Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said the bundle of routine maintenance and minor upgrades was insufficient to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population.
She said the announcement was small scale and, while it was desperately needed, more needed to be done.
“This is the sort of routine upgrade that hospitals need all the time, but when you consider the number of hospitals the government owns and needs to maintain, $100m doesn’t go far enough,” Verrall said.
“The government invested less in health infrastructure than Labour did over the four-year period. They need to raise it more to be able to keep up with the growing demands in our hospitals.
“It’s a re-announcement of funding in the budget, which – over the four-year period – National invested over a billion dollars less than Labour did in previous budgets, so overall health infrastructure is getting worse under Luxon.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.