SPIRE project

The Surgical Procedural Interventional Recovery Expansion (SPIRE) project was an interim solution to expand surgical, gastroenterology and cardiology capacity while planning for the major hospital redevelopment programme occurred.

Two additional theatres were added, bringing the total to nine. The number of procedure rooms was increased from two to four, and the first provincially based interventional cardiac catheterisation laboratory was established. In addition, an expanded day of surgery admission (DOSA) unit and the recovery unit were developed to support the additional number of patients which will now be seen.

The project was delivered in two stages. Stage one involved DOSA, Recovery, Gastroenterology, and a staff area. This was completed on 13 February 2023. Stage 2 included the theatres and the cath lab, as well as the installation of ancillary plant on the roof top. This was completed by the end of 2023.

The project started in 2020 and provides much needed extra surgical capacity which will enable surgical services to manage growing waiting lists. The cath lab bolsters and increases local and regional cardiology services and access, with fewer patients now having to travel outside the district for this care.

Take a tour through both the new Cardiac Cath lab and new theatres as part of the completion of the Major Capital Project SPIRE.This is a significant community outcome for the MidCentral region, ensuring access to services are closer to home so that heart patients avoid travel and can be close to whanau and friends on their road to recovery.

In November 2023, the new theatre and procedure rooms went into use. All surgical specialties now have additional theatre sessions.

The interventional cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) began services in early December. It is the region’s first provincially based cath lab, bolstering and increasing local and regional cardiology services and access.

Across all areas, as soon as the construction team completed work, commissioning began. Equipment, including clinical and digital, was installed. Deep cleans were undertaken, the rooms stocked with clinical supplies, signage installed and a great deal more from a wider support team.

The construction of the cardiac cath lab, operating theatres and the fourth procedure room involved a lot of work, putting the services in place. As sterile environments, strong controls around temperature, humidity and air changes per hour were required. Medical gases, suction, power, heating and ventilation systems, energy and water also needed to be installed.

Stage 2 commenced as soon as Day of Surgery (DOSA) services moved into their new area. This phase was increased to include, theatre storage areas, the theatre patient reception area and the PACU nurses station.

The new theatres and cath lab are supported by a plant room located on the roof. Scaffolding, air handling units and other materials and equipment were craned in. Existing concrete sunshades had to be removed to make way for new pipework and ventilation systems.

Throughout the construction period, new facilities came into operation. First was the theatre change rooms in February 2022, followed by the decontamination suite in July and the first Procedure Room in October. The new Day of Surgery Unit opened February.

Construction on Stage one was completed in 14 months and involved many trades and professionals. It also involved close engagement with clinical teams to minimise disruption to working spaces.

Opening up of the site to enable the construction works to begin. These included significant work to install and connect the many, largely unseen, services required to support these clinical areas, for example medical vacuum, oxygen and air, energy and water, and heating and ventilation.

Construction agreed to be undertaken in 2 stages to enable services to continue. Stage one (Describe) and Stage 2 (Describe), with theatre change room upgrade done during Christmas/New Year 2021-22.

We developed a concept design and business case, secured Government support and funding, and then completed the design process and relocated services to make way for construction to commence.

For any enquiries of feedback relating to the SPIRE Project, you can contact us on +64 6 350 8967 or email ourplace@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact us at hnzmedia@tewhatuora.govt.nz