Hospital favoured as project site

Golden Bay Community Hospital could be extended and developed to include a medical centre and a rest home, if plans by Golden Bay's integrated health group come to fruition.

But Golden Bay Medical Centre doctor Vic Eastman, who has opposed the project since it was first mooted five years ago, is "seriously disturbed" that many improvements that could already have been made in the integration of services have been delayed for so long, while discussion about the new centre drags on.

The group, representing interests associated with the community hospital, medical centre and Joan Whiting Rest Home, is exploring the feasibility of establishing an integrated health facility in or near Takaka.

Group chairman John Peters, also chief executive of Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, said the community hospital site was not a final decision, but one that the group had made to help give the community an indication of its current thinking.

"The group decided that, based on the information we currently have, the hospital site makes the most sense.

"It involves fewer costs associated with land purchase and development, and it would make good use of an existing facility that can be readily adapted."

Other sites under consideration, in Rototai Rd and Park Ave, could add between $1 and $3 million to the project compared with the hospital site, Mr Peters said.

"At this stage we are recommending to the community that we go with an option that gives us more certainty and enables us to make a quicker start to the project."

Mr Peters said the decision on the chosen site was based on the work the group had done during the past 18 months.

"However, it is not set in stone – we want to know what the community thinks."

Mr Peters also said the group had reiterated its commitment to continuing to provide a doctor's surgery at Collingwood.

Dr Eastman said the location of the new centre was not the key issue.

"Numerous improvements in integration that we could already have made, such as a shared database between all medical staff, have been delayed while this project is still being discussed."

The group will host open-day events in Takaka and Collingwood on December 2 and 3.

These will give the public the chance to talk to members of the health group and to view concept drawings of the proposed facility, drawn up by local architectural consultant Andy Clark.

A website will also be launched soon with information about the project.

- © Fairfax NZ News