Source: Radio New Zealand
Wellington Hospital. RNZ / REECE BAKER
Wellington Hospital will have a new $16 million operating theatre by early 2028.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said Health New Zealand had approved the funding for what’s known as a hybrid theatre.
It allows for both traditional surgery and the use of imaging technology – meaning teams can complete complex procedures in one place, without having to move patients between theatres and imaging suites.
Brown said moving patients can create delays and extend recovery times.
“The new $16.25 million hybrid theatre directly addresses those challenges, delivering the highest standard of care in a single, seamless environment,” he said.
“It will replace the current model where a single patient may need to be seen by two different teams in separate rooms.
“By consolidating care in one space, Wellington Regional Hospital will be able to increase its surgical output, allowing more patients to receive timely, quality treatment.”
The theatre will be built on the hospital’s third floor, replacing a non-clinical space. It will have direct access to the emergency department, intensive care unit and post-anaesthesia care unit.
The build will begin mid-to-late 2026, and the theatre will be operating between late 2027 and early 2028.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
