Whakatāne Hospital facts for kids

Whakatāne Hospital is a hospital in New Zealand. It helps people in the town of Whakatāne and the eastern part of the Bay of Plenty. The Bay of Plenty District Health Board runs and manages this hospital.

The Story of Whakatāne Hospital

The idea for a special hospital in Whakatāne started a long time ago. Plans were made in 1919 and 1920. Building the Whakatāne District Hospital began in 1921.

Before the new hospital opened, a temporary hospital helped people. This was the Anglican Māori Mission Hospital on Bridge Street. The new district hospital officially opened its doors on 13 September 1923.

When it first opened, the hospital had several important areas. These included wards for men, women, and children. It also had an operating room for surgeries. There was a pharmacy to get medicines and an X-ray room to see inside the body. In 1927, more areas were added. These included a lab for tests and special rooms for ear, nose, and throat doctors. Later, new buildings like the Dawson Block (1963) and the Godfrey Santon Block (1974) were built. The Godfrey Santon Block is five stories tall and holds the Emergency Department.

Modernizing the Hospital: Project Waka

Whakatāne Hospital is getting a big upgrade! This project is called "Project Waka" and costs about $64 million. It involves making some old buildings better and building a brand new hospital section.

Some of the changes include moving the helipad for helicopters. The Outpatient Department, where people visit doctors without staying overnight, is also being updated. The Mental Health Unit is moving to a new spot. A special Māori Health Unit is being built. The hospital's conference center will also move. Some older buildings will be taken down to make space.

The new building will have many important areas. It will have a larger Emergency Department with 15 patient rooms and two special rooms for very sick people. There will be 69 beds for medical and surgical patients, and 10 beds just for children. Other new areas include a unit for acutely ill patients and a Coronary Care Unit for heart patients. There will also be a High Dependency Unit for patients needing more care. New radiology rooms, two operating rooms, and a procedure room are also part of the plan. The project also includes a central garden courtyard, a cafe, and a playground for children.

What You'll Find at the Hospital

Whakatāne Hospital has many different parts to help people. Here are some of them:

• Emergency Department: For urgent medical problems.
• Maternity Ward: For mothers and new babies.
• Clinical School: Where future healthcare workers learn.
• Mental Health Unit: For people needing support with their mental well-being.
• Māori Health Unit: Focused on the health needs of Māori people.
• 'Project Hope' Cancer Centre: Helps people dealing with cancer.
• Physio/Rehabilitation Center: Helps people recover from injuries or illnesses.

The hospital also has a special landing area for helicopters, called a helipad (NZJF).

Services Offered

The hospital offers many types of care. They provide medical care, surgery, and care for children (paediatrics). They also have services for pregnant women (obstetrics) and women's health (gynaecology). Mental health services are also available.

Beyond these main services, the hospital has many other support teams. These include rehabilitation services to help people get better. They also have speech therapy, physiotherapy, and support for people who have had strokes or heart problems. District nurses also work with the hospital to help people in their homes.