The New Zealand Government has committed NZ$300 million (A$280 million) to redevelop the Taranaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth. This is the second stage of the hospital's redevelopment. The first stage involved building a NZ$80 million acute services building and was completed in 2014. The project will be funded out of the NZ$1.7 billion set aside in the 2019-2020 New Zealand Budget for hospital upgrades and health facilities.
In 2018, four of the current hospital buildings were found to be seismically compromised. So, as part of the Seismic Risk Management Plan (SRMP), the project will see a new Renal Unit, Energy Centre, Computer Room and upgrades to critical site wide infrastructure.
This means it will be capable of providing emergency care after a major disaster.
The redevelopment of the hospital will involve building a new East Wing. This new building will include:
- an emergency department with double the capacity of the current ED
- an Intensive Care Unit
- a rooftop helipad
- purpose built maternity facilities and delivery suite
- a new postnatal ward and neonatal unit
- upgraded laboratory and radiology services, and
- a morgue.
Beyond the East Wing, the project also includes the construction of a new purpose-built Cancer Centre. The Cancer Centre will include:
- LINAC Radiotherapy Unit
- ten chairs and two single isolation rooms for chemotherapy
- eight outpatient consult rooms with video conferencing capability
- Whānau facilities
- accessible facilities with carer assisted change and toilet rooms, and
- staff offices and amenities.
Key Dates
Sep 2019 | Project Announcement |
Jul 2020 | Contract Award |
May 2021 | Construction Commencement - East Wing Building |
2023 | Expected Construction Commencement - Cancer Centre |
Dec 2023 | Expected Construction Completion - East Wing Building |
2024 | Expected Construction Completion - Cancer Centre |
Funding contributions
NZ Government |
Procurement
Procuring Agency: | Taranaki District Health Board |
Successful Tenderer: | Leighs Construction - ECI Contract |
Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
Dec 2019 | The NZ Government issued a Notice of Information for the upcoming tender opportunity for pre-construction and construction service delivery of the hospital upgrade. |
Feb 2020 | The RFP for the pre-construction services contract was released. |
Jul 2020 | The Taranaki District Health Board appointed Leighs Construction as the preferred bidder for the project. This includes Early Contractor Involvement services and the Seismic Risk Management Plan. |
Jun 2022 | Taranaki DHB and Leighs Construction signed the Main Works Contract for construction of the New East Wing Building for the project. |
Nov 2022 | Designs were released for the Cancer Centre. |
Mar 2023 | The new Renal Unit officially opened to patients. |