Staff at the northern end of Timaru Hospital's Gardens Block began moving out of the building this morning.

The South Canterbury District Health Board received an engineer's report warning that the northern end of the six-storey building could suffer a catastrophic collapse in the event of a severe earthquake.

The northern end houses about 40 staff.

Spokesperson Arlene Goss said they hoped to get everyone out of the northern end by Friday, while the southern end of the building would be vacated as soon as appropriate accommodation was sorted.

The southern end of the building houses about 35 staff.

Timaru district councillor Steve Earnshaw, a surgeon, said there were several logistical issues to sort out along the way.

''There may well be a lot of office sharing in the meantime. A lot of staff may have to be squashed into much smaller confines,'' he said.

"Logistically, it's going to be a major exercise, as the staff in that building are absolutely critical, and the IT systems may have to be re-arranged.''

Mr Earnshaw said engineers were becoming increasingly aware of earthquake risks in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes.

''The Gardens' Block is of the same generation as the CTV building. Engineers' understanding of earthquake risks have changed. When you read the term 'catastrophic collapse', you have to act.''

Ms Goss said the northern end of the building would be cordoned off by the end of the week.

There had been no decision on whether the building would be strengthened or demolished once staff from the southern end had been vacated.

''The board have asked for another engineers' report. We're likely to get that in the next three months. From there, the benefits and costs of each option will be discussed,'' she said.

Last month, the board decided it would eventually demolish Kowhai House: an engineer's report claimed the building met only 15 per cent of the required standard. South Canterbury District Health board chief executive Chris Fleming has said it would have cost $350,000 to bring Kowhai House to 50 per cent, or $600,000 to get it to 74 per cent.

The Timaru Hospital laundry, supply building and administration building have been strengthened, and Mr Fleming said the clinical services block could require further strengthening.

HOSPITAL BLOCK MUST EMPTY: 'CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE' RISK

Timaru Hospital's six-storey Gardens Block will be vacated, after an engineers' report suggested the possibility of a "catastrophic collapse" in a "severe earthquake".

But there has been no decision on whether the building will be strengthened or demolished.

South Canterbury District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming said engineers have recently been assessing all DHB buildings for seismic risk in the event of an earthquake.

"Our engineers have advised us that the level of risk related to the supporting structure of the north end of the Gardens Block is higher than originally believed. Their report includes the possibly of a `catastrophic collapse' of the north end of the building in a severe earthquake," he said.

The north end will be vacated by the end of this week; the south end will be vacated as soon as alternative accommodation is available.

The building houses 75 staff: 40 in the north end, 35 in the south.

Mr Fleming said the engineers' technical definition of "severe earthquake" included factors such as the distance, strength, depth and type of shaking.

"However, the definition of `severe' is not the major influence. Any report that suggests a potential risk of `catastrophic collapse' needs to be taken seriously," he said.

"It's important to note that the building is not currently damaged. The engineer's assessment is a prediction of how it might respond to a future severe earthquake."

However, Mr Fleming said that patient, staff and visitor safety was a priority.

"Anyone with a larger office, including myself, will either need to share or move to a smaller room to make way for Gardens Block staff," he said.

Mr Fleming said once a suitable building was found, many of the staff located on the hospital site would be moved off.

Asked whether there was a preference between "strengthening" or "demolishing" the building, Mr Fleming said the Gardens Block future had yet to be decided.

"It is too early to know what the benefits and costs are for each option," he said.

"This will be further investigated."

Last month, the board decided to demolish Kowhai House in December after an engineer's report claimed it met only 15 per cent of the required standard. Mr Fleming has said it would cost $350,000 to bring Kowhai House to 50 per cent, or $600,000 to get it to 74 per cent.

The Timaru Hospital laundry, supply building and administration building have been strengthened, and Mr Fleming said the clinical services block could require further strengthening.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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