The main building of Haut Hospital prone to earthquakes declared: “It is massive.”

The mayor of Lower Hut fears the closure of a major hospital building will lead to the end of some medical services in the city.

The Hot Valley District Health Board announced Tuesday that the Heritunga building at Hutt Hospital – the hospital’s main building – is earthquake-prone and plans are underway to move patients out of the building over time.

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.

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“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.”

The building houses the outpatient unit, maternity and postpartum services, pediatric ward, general surgery and gynecology, and medical ward. The emergency department, operating rooms and intensive care unit are located in a separate building.

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.

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

Rosa Woods/Staff

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

In a note to staff sent out at lunchtime on Tuesday, which Stuff saw, a seismic assessment of the Heretaunga Block showed the building would “be considered earthquake-prone by law.”

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.

In a statement to the media, DHB CEO Vyunagh Dogan 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wayne Jobe, the mayor of Upper Hut, who is also the vice chair of the Hot Valley District Health Board, said he was confident that services would not be affected over the coming months.

“Ideally, this would not have happened. You have to commit to changing the build code and these issues should be addressed.

“From here it is all about making the right decisions so that the hospital can continue to provide its services with as little disruption as possible.”

He expected services to return to the hospital as soon as work is completed to address the problem.

Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images

Hutt South MP Jenny Andersen said the government is committed to ensuring that Hutt Valley maintains hospital facilities.

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.”

She said the government is committed to ensuring that the Hut Valley maintains hospital facilities that were at least as good as those currently in place.

Rimutaka’s MP, Chris Hepkins, said there would be disruption in the short term, but agreed with Andersen that the government was committed to maintaining hospital services in the valley.

“We need to consider all options for the repair or replacement of the Heretaunga block.

“There is no plan to reduce the level of medical care provided in Hutt Valley. The issues identified with the Heretaunga Block have not changed that.”

The news was worrisome for the Hot Valley community, Chris Bishop of National Hotspot who is based in the south.

“We are looking for a huge amount of resources outside of work in the Hutt area and the Wellington area.”

He will follow up with the National Bank of Dubai on how they plan to deal with the situation.

Maternity service solution is being introduced

Hutt Valley DHB board member Prue Lamason said the case was “huge” and confirmed that most board members found out about it for the first time on Friday.

“If a building is earthquake-prone, which means it’s less than 33% of the code, that’s really dangerous. Something needs to be done. But it will be done little by little.”

things

Hutt Valley County Health Board member Prue Lamason plans to propose to the DHB to take over the Te Awakairangi maternity unit for women needing to give birth.

Lamason was confident DHB would handle the relocation, but was concerned about what it might mean for expectant mothers, given that the only place women in Hutt Valley give birth is a hospital maternity ward. Ongoing issues have plagued Hutt’s maternity services for years.

She and fellow board member Richard Stein had intended to make a proposal at the next – and final – board meeting in June to ask DHB to take over the nearby Te Awakairangi maternity unit. The privately owned unit closed last year and remains empty.

Lamason said the couple have tried and tried to agree to the proposal in the past, but it was voted on over and over again.

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