Construction begins on hospital's extension | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Work started today to double the size of Wairarapa's only private surgical facility, but other major development plans for the hospital grounds are being kept firmly under wraps.
The long-planned extension of Selina Sutherland Hospital will boost the facility's capacity from six to 12 beds, with extra space for future development.
The construction work will restrict access to the private hospital to only the front entrance of Wairarapa Hospital.
''Once the project is complete, the new front entry to Selina Sutherland will once again be off Blair St, but during construction we are asking patients and visitors to park at the front of Wairarapa Hospital,'' hospital nurse manager Lesley O'Hara said.
Wairarapa District Health Board (DHB) chief executive Tracey Adamson was ''delighted'' to finally be breaking ground on the project.
''The DHB worked hard to retain a private facility in the Wairarapa when Glenwood Hospital closed in the face of mounting compliance costs for the ageing building,'' she said.
''The Wairarapa relies on having a private hospital to help attract and retain senior medical staff. But the biggest winners in this development are the patients.
''Insured patients seeking elective surgery will benefit from the increased capacity, thereby clearing places on public waiting lists.''
Co-located on the Wairarapa Hospital site, Selina Sutherland Hospital leases theatre time and support services from the DHB.
The new building will be owned by the DHB, with construction funding provided by Selina Sutherland Private Hospital.
''The economies of leasing space and facilities has benefited both hospitals, and Wairarapa patients,'' Ms Adamson said.
She could reveal little about other developments planned for the DHB grounds, which include a clinical support centre estimated at $3.5 million and a one-storey building to be built near the DHB's Blair St entrance, which would house a number of units.
Progress on the sale of the old hospital grounds and buildings _ held to be worth $2.3 million _ remains tied up in talks with the Office of Treaty Settlements.
Selina Sutherland Ltd chairman Dr Rob Dimock said the private hospital had helped attract and retain surgeons in the region. ''This has enabled us to go from strength to strength, and we have planned this extension for some time.'' ''It will ease the pressure on our beds, which are well supported by the Wairarapa public.
''This venture has also cemented our excellent working relationship with the DHB and we are looking forward to working with them as the plans become a reality.''