Christchurch hospital unveils new children's ward after years of delays

Brand new child health services and facilities have been unveiled at Christchurch hospital today.

The Māia Health Foundation - the charity arm of Christchurch hospital has raised $3.2 million to enhance the child health facilities at the new Christchurch Hospital Hagley, which is opening next month.

More than 10,000 children come into Christchurch Hospital each year as inpatients.

The enhancements include a family room, children's play area, and 60 parent beds so family/whānau can sleep alongside their children.

Māia Foundation Chief Executive Michael Flatman said the Matatiki hub facility (children and youth healthcare ward) in the new Hagley building had "exceeded his expectations" and that it had been long awaited process.

It comes after years of delays to the Christchurch hagley building.

Paediatrician Dr Tom Townsend said he and his staff had faced many challenges and delays to get here.

"The time it took has, at times, been frustrating. There were parts of the design that we really felt were important that we really had to push for and kids and their families will now feel less stressed when coming into the hospital."

The facility and additional space was a "massive improvement" to what he and nursing staff were having to put up with - which were "very small, tight spaces" he said.

Working as a paediatrician for eight years, Dr Townsend said he had been advocating to see the fruition of a new and improved facility because the old rooms for children were a challenge to get into.

"We had rooms where I can't fit my team of doctors and myself in the room with the parent and the child if the parent's fold out lazyboy is still out."