The opening of part of Tōtara Haumaru at North Shore Hospital is mixed news.
The $317 million facility built under the previous government was completed late last year. The opening of the facility has be delayed, largely because of funding and staffing issues. The current under-funding of Te Whatu Ora is part of the picture.
When fully operational, Tōtara Haumaru will add an extra 150-bed beds, eight ORs and four endoscopy suites to existing services at North Shore Hospital.
The good news is that part of the building is now being used, plus some services are being delivered in a newly built facility.
The bad news is that it has only been partially opened, and this involved transferring some services and staff from existing services.
Nurses Society director David Wills says in essence there has been a transfer of services rather than a net increase in services.
“Clearly the latter is what is really needed, and needed now”.
“The delay in opening the services is largely attributable to current staffing and under-funding challenges”.
The opening of part of Tōtara Haumaru at North Shore Hospital is mixed news.
The $317 million facility built under the previous government was completed late last year. The opening of the facility has be delayed, largely because of funding and staffing issues. The current under-funding of Te Whatu Ora is part of the picture.
When fully operational, Tōtara Haumaru will add an extra 150-bed beds, eight ORs and four endoscopy suites to existing services at North Shore Hospital.
The good news is that part of the building is now being used, plus some services are being delivered in a newly built facility.
The bad news is that it has only been partially opened, and this involved transferring some services and staff from existing services.
Nurses Society director David Wills says in essence there has been a transfer of services rather than a net increase in services.
“Clearly the latter is what is really needed, and needed now”.
“The delay in opening the services is largely attributable to current staffing and under-funding challenges”.