Grey Base Hospital staff and patients have been dealt another blow, as more of the hospital's facilities are identified as earthquake-prone.

The West Coast District Health Board received preliminary engineering evaluations, which advised that the hospital's acute and community mental health building and the emergency department/outpatient building were quake-prone.

The theatre building was assessed as being above the level of quake-prone, but was still considered a risk.

West Coast DHB chief executive David Meates said preliminary engineering evaluations were not yet complete on every building.

"However, over the last few days more information has emerged about the complex seismic problems facing Grey Hospital. We are dealing with a rapidly evolving situation in which new information continually changes our service and facility planning," he said.

"Some of the engineering remediation options are not yet clear, but are expected to be apparent within a timeframe of weeks."

Three weeks ago, the hospital received detailed engineering reports that advised that multiple wards and the hospital's administration were quake-prone and not seismically compliant.

"We have moved quickly to start remediation and strengthening of four columns in the Hannan and Barclay building and we expect this work to be completed by late November," Meates said.

"When this work is done, we will be relocating services out of the building housing the Morice, McBrearty and Waterson day surgery wards, the critical care unit and medical administration."

In May, the hospital's laundry was shut down after being identified as quake-prone. The laundry, boiler house and the boiler house chimney did not meet seismic standards.

Meates said they had briefed the National Health Board on the new reports.

"We are seeking support from them to enable us to undertake short-term construction work that addresses the immediate risks while accelerating planning for the long-term future of health services on the coast," he said.

"We will continue to update the community as new engineering reports come to hand. There are some complex options to be worked through over the next few weeks to determine both short-term and long-term solutions to maintain health service provision on the West Coast."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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