Waitakere Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waitakere Hospital |
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| Te Whanu Ora | |
The entry area of the hospital.
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| Geography | |
| Location | Henderson/Lincoln, West Auckland, New Zealand. |
| Organisation | |
| Funding | Public hospital |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | Yes |
| Beds | 392 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1945 |
Waitakere Hospital is a busy hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. It's located in the Henderson and Lincoln areas. This hospital helps people living in the North Shore, Waitakere, and Rodney parts of Auckland. It's managed by Te Whatu Ora, which is New Zealand's health agency.
The hospital has many different areas to help patients. It has 76 beds for general medical care. There are also 6 special beds for heart patients in the coronary care unit. Waitakere Hospital also has a maternity unit for new mothers and babies. There's a surgical unit with three operating theatres for operations. The hospital's Emergency Department is open all day, every day. It helps both adults and children who need urgent medical care.
Hospital History
The story of Waitakere Hospital began in 1945. Back then, it was a small building called Waitakere Maternity Hospital. It was located in Te Atatū. People soon realized that a bigger hospital was needed for the growing community.
Building a New Hospital
The idea for a new hospital was first discussed in 1945. However, it took about ten years to find the right place for it. This new hospital was going to be called the 'North Western Hospital'. Over the years, more buildings were added to the site. A special block was built for older patients. The hospital also became a base for many community health services. These services included home health support and help for children with disabilities. Health services for school children, like nurses and eye/ear testing, were also based there.
Hospital Challenges
Like many public hospitals, Waitakere Hospital has faced challenges. In the mid-2000s, there were discussions about allowing private patients to use some hospital services. This showed that even after a big upgrade, the hospital sometimes needed more resources. The Emergency Department, for example, was very busy. It sometimes had to limit how many patients it could see. This was often due to a shortage of staff. Despite these challenges, the hospital continued to serve its community.
See also
In Spanish: Hospital Waitakere para niños
