The official opening of the new East Wing Building at Taranaki Base Hospital campus last month has seen Health New Zealand highlight a number of the project’s technological features, as the agency progresses its long-term roadmap for digital investment and transformation.
The six-storey, 22,000 square metre facility is the centrepiece and final part of a two-stage redevelopment aimed at modernising the hospital’s infrastructure and supporting a growing and ageing Taranaki population.
The building is part of the wider $462.6 million redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which includes the recently opened renal unit and energy centre, alongside an additional $56.1 million investment for the Taranaki Cancer Centre.
Health NZ Acting Chief Information Technology Officer Darren Douglass told Pulse+IT the redevelopment in Taranaki aligned with Health New Zealand’s plan to improve operational service performance nationally, “while also shaping our longer-term direction through the Health Digital Investment Plan, which is our long-term roadmap for digital investment and transformation.”
Mr Douglass said Health NZ continued to make efficiency gains as it moved to join up digital services nationally.
“We have learned from current and previous technology projects, procurements, designs and security reviews – which allowed us to reduce spending and find efficiencies in speed to complete multiple technology design and commissioning in a short timeframe,” Mr Douglass said.
“We were able to leverage the National Digital Facilities Framework, as well as draw on some of the work being done at the new Dunedin Hospital. Staff from Dunedin also visited Taranaki to see what information they could take from the East Wing project.”
He said that among the project’s modern developments was a number of new imaging devices, including technology components and integration into a regional imaging storage solution.
“These include a new CT scanner with a new AI component to automate and simplify nearly every step, from pre-scan to post-scan, which enables it to operate with a new level of speed and precision. The current CT scanner will be upgraded to the same level when it migrates into the Emergency Department area.
“There is also a new mass spectrometer in the laboratories, which can reduce sample analysis from 16 hours currently to less than a minute.”
Mr Douglass pointed to other technological improvements including:
- TempRecord, a digital solution that monitors the temperature critical clinical fridges and freezers;
- A multi carrier Distributed Antenna System to ensure reliable mobile phone coverage, which is integral to operational efficiency and process;
- Upgraded Closed Circuit TV, Door Control, Building Management System, and Fire Graphics solutions, as well as improved Network Segmentation for vendor supported solutions to reduce security risk exposure;
- An upgraded NurseCall solution, which enables direct and efficient two-way communication with patients through wireless or wired devices, to reduce response times and streamline workflows;
- Modern Teams video conference meeting rooms, many of which have imaging computers and screens that will allow regional and national collaboration about diagnostics and treatment.
PROJECT SCOPE
The project represents Taranaki’s largest-ever health infrastructure investment, aimed at allowing better access to care and improved health outcomes for the community.
It delivers 55 additional patient spaces, with 28 of these operational from day one and the remainder to come online progressively.
Health NZ Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley said the new facility would support staff to deliver “best care and meet community needs into the future.”
“Taranaki is already performing strongly to meet community healthcare needs and this investment will support further improvements,” Dr Bramley said.
“It brings essential hospital services together in one place, supporting more timely, integrated care. This facility will help create better access to the care people need so we can continue lifting health outcomes.”
Taranaki Group Director Operations Wendy Langlands said the new building would also support workforce growth – with an additional 29 full-time equivalent roles in the first year and further expansion planned, helping ensure services can operate effectively as demand increases.
“The New East Wing Building brings together emergency, intensive care, diagnostics, maternity and neonatal services in a single clinical environment, improving how services connect and operate across the hospital,” she said.
“Paired with other recent investments such as a new renal unit, cancer centre, energy centre and campus resilience upgrades, the people of Taranaki will benefit from a resilient hospital campus fit for years to come.”
Patients began using the new facility at the end of June, with Health NZ seeking to improve access to assessment and diagnosis, ease pressure across emergency and acute services, and reduce transfers between departments.
It was envisaged that patients would also experience greater privacy and a significantly improved care environment.
Health NZ said that alongside its clinical benefits, the new East Wing would “set a new benchmark” for healthcare infrastructure in New Zealand.
As one of the country’s largest fully electric hospital buildings, it would support lower emissions and improved energy efficiency while maintaining the resilience required of a critical health facility.
Designed to Importance Level 4 (IL4) standards, the building is engineered to remain operational following a major event, ensuring essential health services can continue when they are needed most.
It has also achieved a 5 Green Star Design rating, recognising excellence in environmental performance and patient and staff wellbeing.
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