A new operating theatre will be part of the upcoming extension planned at Mercy Hospital to meet growing demand — both private and public.
Chief executive Richard Whitney said work was set to start at the Dunedin private hospital next month, following the Dunedin City Council’s recent approval of a resource consent.
The extension would add about 200sqm to the hospital, and was intended to contain a seventh operating theatre and other facilities including extended post-anaesthetic care and staff spaces.
"It’s a significant addition to our capacity," he said.
"The demand is there, and what we’re looking at doing is bringing it on stream to ensure there is capacity, both from a private patient perspective, but also from increased levels of support to Te Whatu Ora [Health New Zealand]."
It was an important addition, although as the main building was "huge" — he was unsure of the exact footprint — it was only a modest increase in size.
The resource consent application said while its footprint would increase by about 200sqm, the proposal would increase the internal floor area by a total of 244sqm, spread across two levels.
Mr Whitney said the building consent was still pending, and contractual arrangements with the lead provider were not finished.
What was expected to be about a seven-month build would begin next month.
"We will be commissioning that theatre suite in May."
While it would be the seventh theatre in the main building, it would be the ninth at the site, he said — there were also two theatres in the day surgery facility Manaaki.
The Mercy Hospital building currently provided for six theatres, a three-bed intensive care unit, in-patient and day-stay beds, a cardiac catheterisation lab and a modern oncology unit, the resource consent application stated.
The healthcare facilities provided in the wider campus include Manaaki, Mercy Cancer Care, Mercy Heart Centre, Mercy Physiotherapy, and services including Pacific Radiology and Southern Community Laboratories.
