Southern Cross Healthcare is set to begin the fit-out of its next wholly-owned hospital in Silverdale, to cater for the growing demand for quality care in Auckland’s fast-growing Hibiscus Coast and Bays area.
Work to complete the hospital, which will have three operating theatres and a 10-bed ward, is set to commence in mid-2022, with expected completion due in mid-2023.
The facility will also have nine recovery chairs for day surgeries. The surgical specialities will be confirmed at a later date.
The new hospital will be located on the second floor of the Silverdale Medical & Surgical building. Several other medical providers are already working out of the purpose-built facility, including a general practice, physiotherapy, dental, radiology and a pharmacy.
Hibiscus Coast and Bays is one of Auckland’s most populous areas, and residents currently have to travel further afield to access private surgical care.
The region has experienced rapid population growth in recent years, increasing by 16% between the 2013 and 2018 censuses, and is forecast to increase to 144,800 by 2038.
Southern Cross Healthcare interim chief executive Chris White says the organisation purchased the Silverdale site eight years ago, recognising the growing community would need more access to healthcare, particularly among its ageing population and for the many families in the area.
“We have several strategic landholdings around the country in anticipation of meeting future healthcare needs in fast-growing regions,” White says.
“We procured the Silverdale site in the early days of the area’s development as part of our long-term hospital expansion strategy.
“We’re pleased that we’ll be able to bring hospital services to market in a relatively short time frame because we’re going into an existing building.”
Southern Cross Healthcare has received carbon reduction certification from environmental assessors Toitu Envirocare for its work in measuring carbon emissions across its wholly-owned hospital network.
Once completed, the Silverdale hospital will feature state-of-the-art green technology and features to reduce energy consumption, and to ensure the carbon footprint is minimal.
