Health NZ group director operations for Whanganui Kath Fraser-Chapple said the changes would increase capacity, improve patient flow and create a safer environment for patients and staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemand on Whanganui Hospital\u2019s Emergency Department continues to grow. These improvements will help support more timely assessment and treatment for patients and contribute to shorter stays in the Emergency Department.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ED will remain fully operational throughout the works.<\/p>\n
Kath Fraser-Chapple, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora group director operations for Whanganui, said the changes would contribute to shorter stays in the emergency department. <\/p>\n
\u201cBoth clinical and operational staff have been involved in planning the project and provided feedback that helped shape the final design.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fraser-Chapple said the ED recorded 6666 presentations from July to September \u2013 \u201can increase of 6.5% on the previous winter\u201d.<\/p>\n
Last month, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation claimed Whanganui Hospital\u2019s ED reached 680% capacity across a week. <\/p>\n
Fraser-Chapple said the 680% figure appeared to be based on patient turnover across the week, rather than the number of patients in the ED. <\/p>\n
Fraser-Chapple previously said the work would begin in October<\/a> and told the Chronicle it was expected to start \u201conce the contractor has been appointed and building consent requirements have been completed\u201d.<\/p>\n The project will repurpose existing space within the ED to create two additional ambulatory treatment spaces. These rooms can be closed for single-patient examinations.<\/p>\n The mental health assessment room would have room access changes and security features, Fraser-Chapple said.<\/p>\n The new ED staffroom will be built alongside the existing facility \u2013 which ED staff will continue to use until the new area is complete.<\/p>\n \u201cFuture development needs for the Emergency Department will continue to be assessed as part of ongoing service and infrastructure planning,\u201d Fraser-Chapple said.<\/p>\n \u201cAny future funding decisions will be considered through Health New Zealand\u2019s normal planning and approval processes.\u201d<\/p>\n Outside the ED, Health NZ reported progress in elective treatments and first specialist assessments at Whanganui Hospital.<\/p>\n In a statement last week, Health Minister Simeon Brown said the Central region, which includes Whanganui, now leads the country on both figures.<\/p>\n \u201cWhanganui recorded the largest improvement nationally for elective treatment … the largest gain of any district in the country, up 20.8 percentage points.<\/p>\n