Greenfields hospital site could accommodate Cranford Hospice
Those behind a proposed site for a new regional hospital in Hawke's Bay say there is enough space to accommodate Cranford Hospice.
On Friday, Cranford Hospice announced it has abandoned plans for a purpose-built hospice at Chesterhope in Pakowhai following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Promoters of the Greenfields hospital site, led by former Hawke’s Bay District Health Board member Dan Druzianic, says the building designs for Cranford Hospice could transfer across and the timelines for construction also wouldn’t be compromised.
“Cranford Hospice Foundation and its supporters have done a huge amount of work and all isn’t lost.
“They have raised over $14 million and have designed a modern fit-for-purpose facility that was going to be on a greenfields site, while our vision has always been for a modern health
campus that offers more than a traditional public hospital.”
The proposed 24-hectare site has the potential to become a broader 30ha health campus, with a first right of refusal on additional land.
Druzianic said the site is free of any hazard constraints, is close to existing infrastructure services and offers enough scale to cater for long-term future population growth.
Following the initial site identification, further geotechnical investigations were undertaken by Geotech specialists Initia, confirming the sites potential with low liquefaction risk and
positioned beyond the civil defence tsunami zone.
He added that Te Whatu Ora had confirmed that planning for a major hospital infrastructure spend for Hawke’s Bay and perhaps it is a good idea to look at the new hospital and hospice
to be part of the post-cyclone recovery and resilience planning.
“We urge Te Whatu Ora to accelerate its regional hospital investment feasibility work to connect in a timely manner into our region’s recovery planning process.
“Hastings is growing with significant residential developments in the western parts of the district including Flaxmere while Napier residents will be able to access the new site easier,” Druzianic says.
