Hospitals are required to meet the highest earthquake rating, importance level 4 (IL4). This means the building will be able to withstand a major earthquake, and continue to be operational within one hour. Reports suggest that while Wairarapa Hospital building is in the same situation as when it was built in 2006, it may be unable to function within that timeframe.
While the engineer reports are still being reviewed, the DHB has already taken action to address the areas of concern.
“We wanted to start remedial action to fix what we have found,” said Adri Isbister, Chief Executive.
“It is important for patients and staff to understand our situation is the same now as when the hospital was built, as nothing in the building has changed. What has changed is the building compliance requirements and we are working to meet these.
“In the unlikely event of a 1:500 year earthquake, as things are in the building at present we might not be able to function in our hospital within the one hour timeframe required of an IL4 building. There are services and mechanical plant in the ceilings of the hospital that need extra bracing, so the engineers are working on that now. We have also commissioned an extra peer review.”
At this stage it is expected hospital services will continue as usual while the remedial work is being carried out, however hospital management has not ruled out the potential for some temporary service disruption.
“Our priority is to our patients, staff and the community,” Ms Isbister said.
