New Auckland operating theatres announced

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Four new operating theatres in Auckland would help reduce waiting times for elective surgery, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

Mr Ryall has confirmed the $24 million plans for Auckland DHB's Greenlane campus which will see four theatres dedicated to elective surgery built.

"These are the first new theatres this Government promised as part of our commitment to increase the number of New Zealanders getting elective surgery," he said.

"Separating planned surgery from emergency surgery will give greater certainty that people waiting for operations won't get bumped."

The Government intended to treble increases in elective surgery to an average increase of 4000 elective operations a year. In the first year it recorded an increase of around 12,000 extra operations.

"But Auckland has been lagging behind the national average for elective surgery, and this Government is committed to seeing a similar level of service as other parts of the country."

The theatres were due to open mid next year.

- NZPA