The observation unit under construction at Dunedin Hospital will be operational in June or July, although final sign-off was not expected until August, acting chief operating officer (Otago) Megan Boivin told the board meeting in Invercargill yesterday.
Responding to a question from board chairman Joe Butterfield, Ms Boivin said the unit would increase the number of patients treated or transferred within Health Minister Tony Ryall's target of six hours by 5% to 10%.
The $2.7 million 10-bed observation unit would increase the ED's productivity.
Patients who might be treated in the unit included the intoxicated, and some head-injury patients.
In the second quarter of 2011-12, the DHB's Dunedin and Southland emergency departments transferred or treated 88% of patients within six hours. The target is 95%.
• Dunedin Hospital will be disrupted from March 5 to 9 while four new back-up generators are installed.
The district health board is reminding the public of reduced access to the emergency department while the upper concourse is shut.
All access to the emergency department will be from the Cumberland St hospital entrance.
The new generators will upgrade the hospital's power supply as they replace the two existing generators, the DHB said in a press release.
