Taranaki Base Hospital New East Wing Opens, Boosting Patient Care and Capacity

Taranaki patients will benefit from significantly improved hospital care with the official opening of Taranaki Base Hospital's New East Wing, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey say.

The Taranaki Base Hospital redevelopment is a critical investment in modernising healthcare for the people of Taranaki, Mr Brown says.

Stage two, the centrepiece of the $462.6 million redevelopment, opens to patients on Monday and represents a significant step change in the delivery of acute and specialised healthcare services across the region.

Last year, we invested an additional $59.2 million to meet cost pressures that had emerged since 2022 – ensuring we could complete stage two and deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose hospital that meets the region's needs now and into the future.

The New East Wing brings emergency, intensive care, radiology, diagnostics, laboratory, maternity and neonatal services together in one integrated acute care precinct, alongside a new Acute Assessment Unit to support earlier senior clinical decision-making and reduce unnecessary admissions.

It increases the number of patient spaces to 151, up 55 from current capacity – a 57 per cent increase to meet growing demand for services across the region. The building has also been designed with future expansion in mind.

Key features of the New East Wing include: •    A significantly expanded emergency department with around double the current capacity•    Co-located radiology and imaging services to support faster diagnosis and treatment•    A new ICU located alongside emergency and diagnostic services•    A modern maternity service with new delivery suites, postnatal wards and improved family facilities•    A dedicated primary birthing unit in a purpose-built setting•    A new neonatal unit integrated with maternity and delivery services•    A new Acute Assessment Unit to improve early clinical decision-making and reduce unnecessary admissions•    Upgraded laboratory services, with 34 workstations, to support faster diagnostic turnaround times•    A rooftop helipad providing direct access to the ED, ICU and theatres, so critically unwell patients can receive life-saving treatment as quickly as possible•    A new Integrated Operations Centre, improving hospital-wide coordination and the efficient delivery of care across the campus Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey represented the Government at today's opening, officially cutting the ribbon on the New East Wing and marking the completion of this significant stage of the redevelopment.

The opening of the New East Wing means more capacity, faster access to treatment, and more modern facilities – delivering better care closer to home for Taranaki patients. It's about improving patient flow, reducing delays, and ensuring people get the right care as quickly as possible, Mr Doocey says.

We're focused on fixing the basics and building the future of our healthcare system with the infrastructure it needs. This building will serve the people of Taranaki for many generations to come, ensuring patients get the care they need when they need it.

The New East Wing sits within the broader Taranaki Base Hospital redevelopment, which has already delivered the $56.1 million cancer centre, a mental health facility, a renal unit, an energy centre, resilience upgrades, and an earlier inpatient building.