The $2.4 million upgrade of the community-owned hospital in Balclutha is nearly halfway through and should be completed by May.
Clutha Health First (CHF) is undergoing its first major upgrade, split over six stages, since the centre opened on December 1, 1998.
Chief executive Ray Anton said stage one and two were "virtually complete". The existing veranda outside the Charlotte St exit had been extended to provide more cover for ambulance staff bringing in patients, and a privacy screen erected. Minor changes were still needed to allow the surgical bus access to the area.
Stage two is also complete. One main reception area had been built and a patient lounge revamped.
Work on stage three in the GP area started last week and is expected to be completed by Christmas. Administration offices have been temporarily moved to a Clyde St building.
Access to GP services and main reception is through the Clyde St entrance or, if coming via Charlotte St, along the outside of the building to the double doors at the main reception.
Other stages will involve building extensions and rearranging services.
The final stage will include the demolition of the old Findlaters building to make a larger car park, in front of the new main entrance. Access will be via Clyde St.
Mr Anton said an increasing demand for space, especially in the GP area, had led to the need for the facility's extension.
Key developments included an extension of the GP facilities to allow for extra consultation rooms, one main entrance and waiting area and easier access to GP, lab and X-ray services, outpatient consultants and the inpatient ward.
Clinic rooms will be increased from five to 14 and will be used by GPs and nurses. The physiotherapy department will be relocated to the Clyde St side of the building and the new accident treatment area created in the former physiotherapy space.
Mr Anton said the redesigned area would improve the management of urgent cases and ambulance arrivals. The accident treatment area would have interior access to the resuscitation room inpatient ward. It would give more privacy than the existing system of patients being treated on arrival in the GP area.
CHF is the Balclutha-based hospital and health centre operated by a locally owned trust, Clutha Community Health Company Ltd. It leases the building from Clutha Health Inc.
The Clutha hospital serves 17,000 people, patients coming from as far away as Lawrence, Tuapeka and Tapanui.
