The government has agreed to pay almost $9 million towards earthquake-strengthening Hawke's Bay Hospital's operating theatres and acute assessment unit.
Hawke's Bay Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Hastings. Photo: RNZ / Peter Fowler
The unit has already had some strengthening after being found two years ago to be just 15 percent of the New Building Standard.
Work will start next year at the unit and is due to be finished in 2021.
The theatre block is already at 100 percent of the standard but more work will be done next year to ensure it can operate even after a major shake.
The seismic work is in addition to the $12m the district health board is spending on building an eighth operating theatre.