Kaweka Hospital stage 2 on schedule for mid-2025 opening
Hawke’s Bay’s largest construction project, Kaweka Hospital’s new 7400m2 expansion of clinical services is progressing to plan and set to open in mid-2025.
Kaweka Hospital managing director Dr Colin Hutchison said setbacks from COVID19 are now well behind the construction team led by development and project manager Nick Ward alongside build partner Gemco.
The building is more than three times bigger than the hospital’s surgical facility which opened in September 2022.
“The three-level building has emerged from the ground over the last couple of years and we are getting closer to realising our vision of providing greater access to healthcare for the region.”
“The building is now fully enclosed and is really starting to take shape as a modern hospital and every day we get closer to providing greater access to quality healthcare for people living in Hawke’s Bay,” said Hutchison.
The new 7400m2 complex features 31 patient rooms, a cardiac catheterisation lab, and a full-service imaging, consultation and oncology treatment centre offering state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanning technology and specialist oncology treatment – a New Zealand first.
Other facilities include a pharmacy, café with full commercial kitchen, a procedure suite as well as a training and administration suite and numerous Specialist clinician consult spaces.
The project is a joint venture investment by hospital specialists and management along with local families dedicated to increase accessibility to health care in our region.
Upon completion of stage 2, the health campus will have over 200 surgical and non-surgical specialists, technicians, nurses, support and administration staff.
Lead project manager Nick Ward said “the build process is going extremely well with Gemco and a vast mix of dedicated subcontractors”.
“It is a better time to be building right now following the massive challenges of building in the Covid-affected market from 2020 to 2022 with greater supply of building materials and availability of trade firms.”
The building features the latest seismic design and earthquake proofing – using base isolation technology, which is a first for buildings in Hawke’s Bay.
The technology enables the facility to remain fully functional following a large seismic event providing assurance to Kaweka Health and the wider community in a time when it may be needed.
Kaweka Hospital also has back-up emergency power with a large 880 KVA Generator providing support for both buildings, UPS battery rooms to provide seamless power for critical equipment, and 50,000 litres of back-up Potable water.
The hospital’s surgical facility has now cared for over 4000 patients across ENT (ear, nose and throat), general surgery, gynaecology, urology, ophthalmology and gastroenterology.
“Our vision is to ensure more Hawke’s Bay residents get faster access to quality care and treatment, which ultimately improves the health and well-being of the region,” said Hutchison.
