- Questions published
- See individual question dates
- Reply lodged
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
Questions
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25658
Question published
For each of the five rapid build wards, who is the contracted supplier or manufacturer of the modular units, and what was the contract value?
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25660
Question published
How many inpatient beds elsewhere in Hawke's Bay Hospital does the Minister expect to be freed up as a result of the rapid build ward?
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25661
Question published
How many short-stay surgical beds will the Hawke's Bay Hospital rapid build ward provide, and what is its budgeted capital cost?
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25662
Question published
What is the budgeted capital cost of the Nelson Hospital rapid build ward, and until what date is it expected to remain in use before the new inpatient tower is built?
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25664
Question published
Of the beds at the Nelson Hospital rapid build ward, how many represent additional inpatient capacity and how many are to accommodate services relocated during seismic strengthening work?
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25665
Question published
What is the current status of the Nelson Hospital rapid build ward, and on what date is it expected to become operational?
Show the remaining 20 questions
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25667
Question published
How many beds will the Wellington Regional Hospital rapid build ward add, and what is its budgeted capital cost?
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25668
Question published
What is the current status of the Wellington Regional Hospital rapid build ward, and on what date is it expected to become operational?
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25669
Question published
How many general medicine beds will the Middlemore Hospital rapid build ward add, and what is its budgeted capital cost?
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25670
Question published
What is the budgeted operational funding and FTE requirement for the Middlemore Hospital rapid build ward, and how many staff have been recruited to date?
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25671
Question published
What is the current status of the Middlemore Hospital rapid build ward, and on what date is it expected to become operational?
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25689
Question published
Has the site location for Waikato's rapid build ward changed since September 2025, if so on what date?
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25690
Question published
Will the Minister confirm that the Waikato ward will operate as an assessment and diagnostic area near the emergency department as originally described; if the function has changed, what is the current intended function?
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25691
Question published
Has any capital or operational funding originally allocated to the Waikato Hospital rapid build ward been reallocated, withheld, or returned; if so, what amount, and to what purpose?
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25693
Question published
How many beds will the Waikato Hospital rapid build ward provide, and what is its budgeted capital cost?
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25694
Question published
Has the Waikato Hospital ward been delayed, descoped, paused, or cancelled at any point since it was announced; if so, what was the nature of the change and who authorised it?
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25695
Question published
What is the current status of the Waikato Hospital rapid build ward, and on what date is it now expected to become operational?
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25697
Question published
Will the new ward announced for Waikato Hospital under the fast-tracked hospital wards programme proceed; if not, why not, and on what date was that decision made?
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25698
Question published
Has the scope, bed count, location, or timeline of any of the five wards changed since the programme was announced; if so, for which wards, what changed, and on what date was each change decided?
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25700
Question published
How many FTE staff are required to operate each of the five rapid-build wards, and how many, if any, of those positions have been recruited to date?
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25701
Question published
What is the budgeted operational funding for each of the five rapid-build wards for 2025/26 and 2026/27?
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25703
Question published
Will all five wards in the fast-tracked hospital wards programme be delivered, if not, which will not proceed, and why?
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25704
Question published
How many of the five fast-tracked wards are on track to become operational in the second half of 2026 as at 3 June 2026, and what is the expected operational date for each?
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25705
Question published
How many of the 140 new beds in the fast-tracked hospital wards programme will be located at each of Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington Regional, Nelson, and Hawke's Bay Hospitals?
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25707
Question published
What is the total capital cost of the fast-tracked hospital wards programme, and what is the capital cost attributed to each of the five wards individually?
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26776
Question published
What is the current status and confirmed operational date of the Hawke's Bay Hospital rapid build ward?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
Answer
Budget 2025 provided investment for the fast-tracked hospital wards programme, delivering five interim inpatient units at Middlemore Hospital, Waikato Hospital, Wellington Regional Hospital, Nelson Hospital, and Hawke’s Bay Hospital as part of the Government’s commitment to increasing hospital capacity and improving access to healthcare for New Zealanders. I am advised that each interim inpatient unit will provide 28 additional inpatient beds, increasing overall hospital capacity by a total of 140 beds across the five sites. These additional beds will help relieve pressure on hospitals, support frontline staff, and ensure more patients can receive timely care closer to home. The specific use of beds may vary depending on local demand, operational requirements, and service configuration, with the principal benefit being the increase in overall inpatient capacity. I am advised that Southbase Construction is the principal contractor for all five interim inpatient units. Southbase subcontracted the manufacture and delivery of the modular units to Portacom NZ Ltd for Hawke’s Bay, Middlemore, Waikato, and Wellington, and to Fitzgerald Construction for Nelson. Health New Zealand advises that the contract values for the unit supply arrangements are commercially sensitive. I am further advised that the interim inpatient units are being delivered alongside wider hospital redevelopment programmes to provide additional capacity sooner than would otherwise be possible. In Nelson, the interim inpatient unit is expected to remain in use until the new inpatient tower becomes operational, ensuring patients continue to benefit from increased capacity while longer-term infrastructure projects are completed. With respect to Waikato Hospital, I am advised that additional acoustic testing resulted in an extended design phase. However, I am advised that none of the five interim inpatient units have changed in scope, bed count, or location, and all five projects remain on track to be delivered. This Government is focused on delivering practical improvements to the health system after years of underinvestment in hospital infrastructure. These interim inpatient units are part of our broader programme to expand capacity, reduce pressure on existing facilities, and ensure New Zealanders can access healthcare when and where they need it. I am advised that there was no operational budget for the interim inpatient units in 2025/26 because the facilities were not operational during that period. Health New Zealand will budget for operational costs as part of its 2026/27 budget. I am advised that the interim inpatient units are expected to require an average of approximately 70 additional FTE staff across each site, with recruitment planning underway across the districts. I also refer the Member to the attached table setting out the current estimated delivery timelines. As with any major infrastructure programme, timelines have been refined as planning has progressed and greater certainty has been established.
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