As Grey Base is at least a three-hour road journey from Christchurch, the operating theatres in the new hospital are being equipped with technology that will enable specialist consultants to monitor procedures remotely and offer assistance when required. This capability will be particularly useful when the hospital is difficult to access.
Many of the clinical areas are designed for multiple functions to allow boundary spaces to be used for neighbouring departments as needed. The family centre will share resources and staff with the main hospital, too. The consulting spaces are designed to be flexible so that they can be used for general practitioner services, as well as hospital consultations.
The project will provide Greymouth with a new hospital that will offer 56 inpatient beds, three operating theatres, outpatient services, an accident and emergency department, services that include medical imaging, pathology, pharmacy, maternity, paediatrics, oncology and dialysis, a dental suite, and comprehensive family health services. Its design and buildings services will support the latest technological advances within a safe, modern and secure environment.