$305m for Auckland hospital upgrade

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a $305 million investment to upgrade and repair essential infrastructure at Auckland District Health Board.

“Our public health service is staffed by an incredibly skilled and dedicated workforce.

To deliver the high quality services that all Kiwis deserve they in turn deserve facilities they can rely on,” Ardern said.

“It’s no secret that our hospitals have been underfunded for many years. That’s left us a legacy of deferred maintenance and aging infrastructure that we can no longer ignore.

“In Budget 2018 we set aside $750 million of new funding for capital projects. Today I’m announcing that $275 million of that will be spent at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and the Greenlane Clinical Centre. Auckland DHB will invest a further $30 million dollars over the next three years.

“This is a huge investment and will ensure the DHB can continue to deliver safe, quality care to its 500,000 patients,” Ardern said.

The programme of work will include lift upgrades, new fire protection systems, new electrical substations and water storage. The project will also improve energy efficiency and help reduce operating costs.

Health Minister Dr David Clark says this is much-needed work on the often invisible infrastructure that keeps the DHB’s major hospitals running.

“While patients, whanau and staff may not immediately see a lot of difference as a result of this remediation programme, it will mean fewer operational failures, greater efficiency and responsiveness, and improved safety and resilience.

“This work will provide a foundation for the DHB to plan for the future healthcare needs of its communities. It is a necessary precursor for any future development of the Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre sites.