New equipment building for hospital

GETTING STARTED: Chair of the Wairarapa DHB Derek Milne and Chris Williams, material management, turned the first sod. PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA

Construction of a new building to house equipment at Wairarapa Hospital has officially started.

The building will house the hospital's facilities maintenance services and therapist store giving patients better access from Blair St.

Chris Williams, the longest serving staff member in the department for 35 years, turned the first sod at a ceremony yesterday afternoon.

The department had been running from the old hospital site buildings which are being sold.

The new building is closer to the hospital entrance and gives better access to equipment, Brian Freeman, facilities and logistics manager for the hospital, said.

It would be easier for things like crutches to be picked up and returned with its new location.

The new building will also be home to a workshop where equipment will be repaired and maintained.

"We're designing a whole work flow," said Mr Freeman.

He said it had taken a couple of years to get to an agreement and finalise the design. The 330 square metre building is expected to be completed in four to five months.

The building's construction was funded by the Wairarapa Community Health Trust, which is separate to the DHB.

Derek Milne, chairman of the Wairarapa District Health Board, said it was great that work was starting on the construction. "This is for the people who keep the place running."

Dr Milne and new members of the DHB were also welcomed at a powhiri yesterday morning. He and board members Ron Mark, Ronald Karaitiana and Alan Shirley were welcomed at a traditional powhiri before the first board meeting for 2014.

The traditional Maori welcome was coordinated by Director Maori Health Stephanie Turner and included representatives from local iwi and senior DHB staff.

Dr Milne acknowledged it was a great honour for he and his fellow board members to be entrusted with ensuring DHB funds were spent in ways that best benefit the Wairarapa community.