Nelson Hospital has been in the news for all the wrong reasons – having insufficient beds, earthquake-prone tower blocks and outdated facilities. I have had more than a dozen meetings with Ministers, MPs and senior health officials over the past few months, lobbying to get Health NZ’s Detailed Business Case approved and the funding to deliver it in this year’s Budget.
Health Minister Simeon Brown was in Nelson last month to familiarise himself with our problems. I was impressed that he sent in a senior clinical review team immediately after the issues over standards of care and staffing were highlighted and the assurances of improvements. I have also subsequently met Minister Brown at the Beehive about the redevelopment business case.
Tasman Mayor Tim King and I were given a tour of the building work underway and a briefing on Health NZ’s redevelopment plans last month. Nelson City Council has a particular interest as the building authority in ensuring the two tower blocks – George Manson and Percy Brunette – are strengthened by the legal deadline of 16 November 2028.
This strengthening work is well underway and will enable the earthquake-prone building notices to be withdrawn later this year. It was also good to see construction progress on the expanded Emergency Department with six new treatment rooms, two dedicated mental health rooms, an extra triage room and whānau room.
Some people have been critical of Health’s NZ’s changed tack, from a single mega project to a staged development. This was driven by the debacle over Dunedin Hospital that has seen years of delay and a billion-dollar blowout.
I back Health NZ’s changed approach. It will provide Nelson more ward space and beds sooner. I cannot see how a mega project, when construction was meant to begin in 2023, can now be delivered by 2028. It makes no sense to strengthen the two tower blocks and then to replace them. A staged approach also provides more opportunities for local contractors and less risk of delays.
I have made plain that the redevelopment of Nelson Hospital is the region’s top priority. Budget ’25, on 22 May, will reveal if our message has been heeded.
