Nth Shore hospital gets $36m for emergency dept

The Government has approved $36 million to improve North Shore Hospital's emergency department.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said the project would increase capacity in the emergency department and provide extra beds.

"More emergency care beds, a new assessment and diagnostic unit and more inpatient beds should add up to improved service in the emergency department," Mr Ryall said.

The proposal includes an extra 26 emergency department cubicles (currently 16), another 19 beds in the admissions planning unit (currently 37), and an extra 48 medical inpatient beds (currently 170).

Mr Ryall said the public was concerned about emergency department performance and the current service at North Shore Hospital had not been able to keep up population growth and demand.

It was expected the extension would be completed in late 2011 at a total cost of $48 million.

- NZPA