Staff and patients at Christchurch Hospital are being warned a $20 million upgrade is going to be very disruptive.
The chief executive of the Canterbury District Health Board, David Meates, says while he is pleased the major quake repairs and rebuild projects for Canterbury Health System have begun, he is aware it will be extremely disruptive for staff and patients.
The projects include a new acute medical assessment unit and the expansion of surgical ward capacity and the surgical progressive care unit.
Mr Meates says up to 100 tradesmen will be on the sites at times, creating noise and vibration, but the contractors will try to minimise the disruption.
The acute assessment unit should be ready to open in February, while the new wards are likely to open a couple of months later.