Balclutha's hospital, Clutha Health First (CHF), is undergoing its first major upgrade since the centre was opened almost 13 years ago.
CHF chief executive Ray 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 to the current general practitioner 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.
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 Incorporated.
The Clutha community has fought for the Balclutha hospital and its future many times, including a three and a-half year battle to retain inpatient surgical services.
In 1991, the Balclutha Hospital Support Group was created, first to save inpatient surgery and secondly to set up its own surgical unit.
The group raised about $160,000 towards creating community-owned surgical services, but had its funding proposal rejected by the Southern Regional Health Authority.
A feasibility report commissioned by the group had shown it needed health authority funding of at least $1.6 million each year, covering 461 operations, to make the unit viable.
The authority's rejection effectively ended the group's bid to retain inpatient surgery.
The existing Balclutha hospital opened on December 1, 1998, signalling the end of another battle to retain health services in the town. The town's former hospital was closed and was replaced with a new, purpose-built facility in central Balclutha.
Mr Anton said the delivery of rural health services had changed significantly during the 12 or so years since the current building was built and said management hoped the planned changes would address the issues public and staff had been dealing with around cramped conditions, lack of privacy and difficult access for some services.
"We've evolved over the years, and a lot of changes have happened over time to make things work. The new design will eliminate a lot of traffic from the ward areas and centralise services."
The health centre has multiple waiting areas throughout the building and one of the major changes is the creation of one main reception area and one main entrance. The number of clinic rooms will be increased from five to 14 and they will be used by GPs and nurses.
An accident and medicine centre will be created, plus a covered ambulance-only entrance from Charlotte St, with the surgical bus in the same area.
The physiotherapy department will be relocated to the Clyde St entrance 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 will have interior access to the resuscitation room inpatient ward and give more privacy than the existing system of patients being treated on arrival in the existing GP area.
Mr Anton said he was particularly looking forward to the creation of an accident and medical centre.
"It's a way to move forward the care with the doctors. The new design will make the patient and staff experience better."
The hospital upgrade is split into six stages and is expected to be completed by March next year.
The first stage has begun at the Charlotte St entrance of the hospital. The major feature of this stage is the creation of an ambulance and surgical bus-only area. The existing veranda will be extended to provide more cover for ambulance staff bringing in patients and a privacy screen erected. The area would also provide minimal staff car parking.
Once completed, this entrance will be limited to staff and emergency personnel only.
Other stages will involve building extensions, and rearranging services.
The final stage of the development will include the demolition of a building next to the hospital at 20 Clyde St (the old Findlaters building) as building code changes mean the building is not suitable for renovation. Once demolished, the space will become a larger car park, in front of the new main entrance, with some access from Clyde St, depending on the New Zealand Transport Agency's requirements.
