An urgent meeting of the Hutt Valley District Health Board has been called tomorrow to discuss the future of Hutt Hospital, in particular making sure women have a safe place to give birth.
Hutt Hospital which will have to be cleared of all services. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The hospital's main Heretaunga Building was declared an earthquake risk last month and will have to be emptied of all patients and services - including maternity, the children's ward and general surgery wards.
Tomorrow's meeting had been called especially to discuss the problem.
The board will vote on two motions - to ask health authorities to commit to rebuilding the hospital on the current site, and to find new places to move patients to, particularly women giving birth.
Two board members are calling for the board to urgently prioritise finding a safe, fit-for-purpose birthing facility close to the Hutt Hospital.
That fits the description of Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre which was closed last year after it could not get funding and has been suggested as a good option for Hutt mothers.
No decision has been made yet but it was expected more details on the progress so far, including a timeline, would be revealed tomorrow.
Details from the 13 May board meeting where the decision to vacate was made have been released.
The board called for engineers to be consulted so temporary measures could be put in place to minimise the risk to lives while the building was being vacated.
It said the building must be vacated in a way that ensured services would continue and patients, staff and visitors would be kept safe.
It noted that the move would have a big impact on the health services of the whole Wellington region.