Wakari Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wakari Hospital |
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| Te Whatu Ora | |
Main Block entrance, Wakari Hospital in 2008
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| Geography | |
| Location | Taieri Road, Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 45°51′32″S 170°28′22″E / 45.858994°S 170.472783°E |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public |
| Hospital type | Psychiatric & Rehabilitation |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | Psychiatric |
| Beds | 90 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1915 |
Wakari Hospital is a special hospital located in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is found in the suburb of Wakari, which is about three kilometers northwest of the city center. This hospital is managed by Te Whatu Ora, a health organization. It works closely with Dunedin Hospital.
Wakari Hospital helps people with different health needs. It has special services for mental health. It also cares for people with intellectual disabilities. Another important role is helping people recover physically after an injury or illness. The hospital has units that provide emergency mental health care. It also offers long-term and short-term secure mental health support. There are services specifically for Māori people's mental health. The hospital also provides physical rehabilitation. More and more, it offers services that reach out into the community. These include public health programs and district nursing.
Contents
Hospital History
Early Beginnings
Wakari Hospital first opened in 1915. At that time, it was a center for infectious diseases. Later, it became a sanatorium, which is a place for people to recover from long-term illnesses.
Becoming a General Hospital
In 1957, the hospital was updated. It became a general hospital. It served as the main hospital for the Otago region. This was especially true while Dunedin Hospital was being rebuilt in the 1970s.
Changes in the 1980s and 1990s
In the early 1980s, the building where nurses lived was rented out. The University of Otago used it as a place for students to stay. This building was taken back in 1992. This happened when another hospital, Cherry Farm Hospital, closed down.
How the Hospital's Use Changed
Focus on Specialized Care
Wakari Hospital continued to provide care for older people and mental health services. Over the 1990s, the wards for older people slowly closed. This was due to government changes that encouraged private long-term care. The services for assessing and rehabilitating older patients moved back to Dunedin Hospital.
New Uses for the Main Building
There were attempts to sell the main building of the hospital. Sometimes, it was used for special purposes. For example, it was used for testing new medicines. People would stay there while new drugs were being studied. It even provided temporary housing during big rugby games.
Current Plans and Future Directions
Redeveloping the Main Block
Currently, the main building is being updated. It will house various community outreach services. These include Public Health and District Nursing. Moving these services here saves money. They are moving from expensive rented places. Now they are in buildings that Te Whatu Ora already owns.
Future of the Site
Discussions are ongoing about whether the entire hospital site is needed. There have been ideas to sell some land. This land might be sold to Leslie Groves Hospital. This shows how hospitals adapt to changing health needs.
