CDHB Looks to the Future on Health Facilities

The project was endorsed today at the Board’s monthly meeting.

Work on a Facilities Master Plan follows the completion of a Health Services Plan for the region.  This plan, which involved community and key stakeholder consultation in 2007, was made to inform the development of Canterbury health services through to 2020 and identify physical infrastructure needs for the next 50 years.

CDHB CEO David Meates said, “There are a number of issues with CDHB facilities that need to be resolved for the future and we have to have a co-ordinated plan rather than tackle them in an ad hoc way.”  

Among the most pressing issues for the Board are the need to determine where new elective theatres, being considered by the Minister of Health, could be located; exploration of a site for a dedicated children’s facility; and replacement and renovation of parts of Christchurch Hospital within the next 15 years.  (For more detailed information see the Board papers online at http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/CorpBrd/DHBMeetings/CDHBMeetings.htm. ) Facilities needed to support community care will also be considered in development of the Master Plan.  

“Given our financial constraints we know we won’t be able to tackle everything at once but we need a robust plan and timeline so that we know we can meet the future health needs of Canterbury people,” Mr Meates said.

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