For years, the George Manson block at Nelson Hospital has been known as the hospital building in the worst condition in the country.
The unenviable title came from an audit of health facilities around the country which highlighted earthquake-strengthening issues in the seven-storey building.
Plans to rebuild or redevelop Nelson Hospital have been talked about since the late 1990s, with some staff and locals frustrated by what they see as delays.
But in recent months glimmers of progress have begun shining through.
Earlier this month, 1News was given a tour of parts of Nelson Hospital as officials ramp up planning for a billion-dollar hospital redevelopment.
‘It’s not fit for purpose anymore’
Liz Thompson is a Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora project director and part of the team tasked with the Nelson Hospital Redevelopment – Project Whakatupuranga.
One eyesore is the 10 old cottages, some of which date back to the 1930s, and were likely once used as staff housing. One of the cottages is now used for families of children staying in the special care baby unit.
Thompson said they’re not a good use of space and “beyond their end of life”.
In the upcoming redevelopment, they’ll be the first to go.
Inside the hospital, ward ten is a surgical ward for patients to recover in before they go home but it’s not ideal.
“It’s not fit for purpose anymore,” Thompson said.
“It’s very cramped, as you can see, with all the equipment in the corridors.
“A couple of shared bathrooms. No mechanical ventilation.”
There’s poor airflow throughout the ward, which is an issue with illness prevention, and medical equipment line the hallways – despite the signs saying it shouldn’t.
The hospital has been built in stages and Te Whatu Ora wants to keep the parts that are in good condition. But exactly what that looks like isn’t clear yet and won’t be until the master plan is finally revealed.
Noisy progress to meet deadline
Health NZ has altered the programme to a “series of smaller buildings.” (Source: 1News)
Both of the hospital’s main buildings – the George Manson and Percy Brunette – need earthquake strengthening with a 2028 deadline from the council for this to happen.
Four months ago, work began on some administration floors. Each room has timber braces added from floor to ceiling which are bolted through the wall.
“It’s a little brutal at this point and that’s because it’s temporary,” Thompson said.
“When we do the redevelopment we’ll come back through this building and refurbish it properly.”
Recently, it was found that the seismic issues with the buildings were not as extensive as initially thought. When Health Minister Dr Shane Reti visited earlier this month, it was suggested the buildings will be reused for administration blocks.
“Both the George Manson and Percy Brunette buildings will be refurbished as the redevelopment of the hospital progresses,” Thompson said.
“With the seismic upgrades and further updating to support contemporary models of care, these buildings have a long-term future life on the campus.”
A hospital redesign dating back to the late ’90s
The two main buildings of Nelson Hospital were built in the 1960s and 70s. The site has been added to in pieces over the years.
Documents show a rebuilt or redesigned hospital was first talked about back in the late 1990s, though planning work officially started in 2017.
Last year, Cabinet – under the previous government – signed off a $1.1 billion new acute services building. But earlier this year, 1News revealed the design had quietly been changed to a series of smaller buildings.
Te Whatu Ora said the proposed phased approach will mean parts of the project will be completed sooner than expected.
Reti said he hopes the business case will go to Cabinet by the end of the year.
New hospital always ‘five years away’: union
Some patients may be given hospital care in their homes as the region struggles with capacity. (Source: 1News)
Dr Katie Ben is an anaesthetist at Nelson Hospital and the national president of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.
“When I started in 2009, I was told that the new hospital was about five years away. And ever since, the new hospital has been about five years away.”
She said with the region’s growing population, it’s absolutely needed.
“We have outgrown our capacity to look after our inpatients, particularly over winter,” she said.
Ben said one concern for staff is how the hospital will be designed and whether crucial services like the emergency department and ICU will continue to be near each other.
“There’s concern because we actually don’t know what’s happening.”