The main building of Hutt Hospital declared vulnerable to earthquakes

RNZ

Hospital Hut vulnerable to earthquakes, staff were told.

Hospital Hut is earthquake-prone and the district health board intends to move patients from the building over time, staff have been told.

In a note to staff sent at lunchtime on Tuesday, which Stuff saw, a seismic assessment of the Heretaunga complex – the hospital’s main building – showed that the building “would be considered earthquake-prone by law”.

DHB has since confirmed the information, telling the media it is working to determine how services will be moved outside the building.

It is understood that members of the Board of Directors were told about the matter last Friday, when an issue was brought up and discussed urgently behind closed doors. It is understood that employees first learned of the problems on Tuesday in the memo, from Chief Executive Vyonagh Dogan.

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The building houses the outpatient unit, maternity and postpartum services, pediatric ward, general surgery and gynecology, and medical ward.

The emergency department is in a separate building.

In a statement to the media, Duggan said an initial assessment found the building would require extensive remedial work to bring it to acceptable levels, which could upset patients.

“Instead, we will look at how to move patients and services out of the building as well as study alternative arrangements that might work in our communities,” Duggan said.

Therefore, DHB was planning to move patients and services out of the building so that care could continue.

Rosa Woods/Staff

Hutt Valley DHB CEO Fionnagh Dougan told employees on Tuesday that the main building of Hutt Hospital is vulnerable to earthquakes.

Professional engineering advice advised that “the risk to people as we take our next steps is low” and the building performed well in the Sidon and Kaikoura earthquakes.

“Our emergency procedures are up-to-date, and we are working with our emergency management partners, including the Department of Health, to ensure our emergency response planning is robust and ready to act if needed,” the memo said.

Duggan said Hutt Valley, Capital & Coast DHBs will work with neighboring DHBs and the Department of Health as well as the New Zealand Department of Health and the Maori Health Authority to consider options and next steps.

“We will also consult and interact with staff and service providers, and the Hutt Valley Council of Interim Agencies will recommend that any alternative be prioritized in a way that ensures the Hutt Valley community continues to have access to high-quality, safe and equitable health care,” Duggan said.

In the meantime, she added, services from the Hiritonga complex will continue to be provided and people can continue to receive health care at Hot Hospital as they normally do.

DHB has several years to rebuild the 40-year-old building into a symbol.

The Hiritunga Pavilion was officially opened in 1982 by then-Governor-General Sir David Beatty.

Robert Kitchen / Stuff

Haute Mayor Campbell Barry said the gradual closure of the complex may represent the removal of health services from the Haut Valley.

Campbell Barry, the mayor of Haute, said he understands health and safety issues, but was shocked that the announcement of the phased closure was not accompanied by a full commitment to the hospital.

“I want to be absolutely clear: Today we have learned that the main building at Hutt Hospital will be closed, and there are absolutely no plans to rebuild or repair the site to secure future health services.

“Once the family, specialist services, and staff leave Hutt elsewhere, I am deeply concerned that they may never return. Today may well represent the long-term removal of specialist health services in Hutt Valley.”

He said the Heretaunga Block houses 79% of the beds in the hospital, making up 25% of the total hospital bed capacity in the district.

He called on the New Zealand government and Health (which will receive buildings and services from the local health board within six weeks) to commit to a full rebuilding on the site and a guaranteed return of services.

“People across our city must actively pay attention to this problem, our Hutt Hospital and the services it currently provides may be at risk.”

Hot South MP Jenny Andersen said the Hot Valley community needed to find out as soon as possible if a complete rebuilding was needed.

“I’m 100% committed to getting it back to standard no matter what.”

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