Monday 3 November 2014: Full steam ahead at Kaikoura It’s fantastic to see progress being made on the new Kaikoura Integrated Family Health Centre (IFHC). While there’s been a lot of focus lately on the construction at Christchurch and Burwood, it’s very pleasing to see the rapid progress being made at Kaikoura. If you’d like to take a look for yourself check out the Kaikoura IFHC webcam which gives a bird’s eye view of the new facility – and its stunning setting. Once the floor is complete, the pre-nailed wall frames will go up giving a better idea of the layout of the new centre. When complete, the new $13 million Kaikoura Integrated Family Health Centre will replace the old hospital on the site and provide facilities for primary care, aged care, acute care, maternity care, radiology services and trauma stabilisation. Work is on track for a January 2016 completion.
New Park & Ride shuttle proving its worth CDHB’s Park & Ride shuttle service has been well received by patients and visitors using the service since it started last week. There has been some tweaking and modification of the service to meet demand at peak times, however, it’s great to see it so well utilised. In response to feedback from users of the shuttle we’ve arranged for the council to install another parking meter right next to the container shuttle stop in the old brewery car park, and we’re getting some custom-built steps made to make it easier for people to get in and out of the shuttles. We will continue to modify the service as time goes on. Thanks to all those involved in getting this service off the ground in such a short time-frame. Special thanks too to our team of volunteers, orderlies and security who have been ably assisting people all week. The numbers of people using the shuttle continues to grow. The number of wheelchair transfers of people to and from the front door to various areas of the hospital has also increased by 100 transfers a day. Interestingly more people are using the shuttle to get to hospital and fewer are taking the return journey back to the car-park. For those who are able to walk, the 900 metre walk across to the car park takes around 5-7 minutes.