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INDEPENDENT QUEENSTOWN HOSPITAL OPENS IN DECEMBER

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October, 2021

Queenstown's new independent hospital is scheduled to open by the end
of this year, and is expected to start operating in January.
Southern Cross CLT Ltd chairman Terry Moore said despite the challenges
caused by the various Covid lockdowns, the hospital, next to the
Queenstown Country Club, bordering Shotover Country, was on track to
be handed over from developer Queenstown Commercial before
Christmas.
"We are extremely pleased with the progress made in all the
circumstances.
"The hospital will be completed and fully equipped prior to the
Christmas holidays and we will spend a few weeks over the holiday
period ensuring everything is in place and working read to start
operations in January."
A full-time hospital manager had already been employed, along with
several other key staff who had been working with local advisor Andrew
Blair ahead of services starting early next year.
Mr Moore said there would be about 25 staff employed by the time the
hospital opened, including a full-time anaesthetist who would also
provide clinical governance.
The Southern District Health Board had contracted the new hospital
believed to cost about $25 million to undertake various elective
surgical procedures, including a regular weekly operating list for acute
orthopaedic procedures which would save patients the need to travel to
Invercargill for treatment.
The hospital had three operating theatres; however, only one would
open initially to start on low-complexity day surgery.
A second theatre would come on stream in February when inpatient
services would begin.
Over time, more specialist surgery was planned, including orthopaedics,
ophthalmology, urology, gynaecology, plastic and general surgery.
It would not be providing accident and emergency services, but would
be funded by ACC to provide surgery for qualifying injured patients.
The single-storey building, designed by Warren and Mahoney, also 13
inpatient beds, each with an ensuite, and two larger suites, along with
recovery rooms.
We are really looking forward to opening the hospital.
The Central Lakes region has waited a long time to secure local
surgical services and we are now just a few months away, Mr Moore
said.
A public open day is planned next year to enable people to see behind
the scenes.

Source: Otago Daily Times