Southern Cross completes $11m expansion of New Plymouth hospital

Southern Cross Healthcare’s newly completed $11 million expansion of its New Plymouth hospital was unveiled at a dawn blessing ceremony this morning, led by Ngāti Te Whiti kaumātua Shane Cassidy.

The completion of the two-stage hospital development on St Aubyn Street commenced with the expansion of the car park in August 2020. This was followed by the construction of two new operating theatres, a 12-bed post-anaesthesia care unit and a 13-chair day procedure recovery area which was finished in December last year.

Southern Cross Healthcare Interim Chief Executive Chris White, who attended the blessing ceremony, said “We’re grateful to everyone who worked so tirelessly on the development. It’s a fantastic achievement to get a project like this completed, especially through a pandemic.”

Southern Cross New Plymouth Hospital General Manager Lee McManus said, “The increased operating theatre capacity, and associated recovery beds will enable the hospital to better meet the increasing healthcare needs of New Plymouth and the wider Taranaki region, and treat more patients who require procedures.

“We’re also honoured to have been gifted two beautiful framed taonga from local carver Bobby-Jo Manukonga to display in each new theatre which were unveiled at the blessing. Our team is looking forward to treating the first patients in the new surgical areas tomorrow,” she said.

The hospital employs approximately 154 staff and is recruiting additional staff to work in the newly commissioned areas.

McManus, a highly experienced clinician, was recently appointed as General Manager in November 2021 after long-serving GM Jenny Gamble retired from the role. McManus was previously at Taranaki District Health Board as Hospital Manager Acute and Planned Care.

McManus said she’s pleased to have joined the Southern Cross New Plymouth team at such an exciting time.

“I’ve always been passionate about delivering excellent healthcare services and I’m looking forward to guiding our staff to keep doing exactly that for the people of Taranaki. I was born and raised locally and love living here, and I am really happy to be able to contribute to the health of the community.”

If you have any further queries, please contact Alaina McGregor, Communications Manager, Southern Cross

Alaina.mcgregor@southerncross.co.nz or 022 191 0760

About Southern Cross Healthcare

Southern Cross Healthcare (previously Southern Cross Hospitals) is the largest independent private healthcare network in the country. In the 2021 financial year, we provided elective surgery, high-end diagnostics and cancer treatment to almost 100,000 patients at our wholly owned or joint venture hospitals and medical facilities. In addition, rehabilitation, community-based physiotherapy, mental health and corporate wellness services are provided to New Zealanders. Southern Cross Healthcare and its joint ventures extends their services to insurance-funded, ACC, DHB and self-paying patients.

In 2019, patient feedback systems were advanced through adoption of a proven online survey platform, delivering patient feedback in ‘real time’. The results following this switch continue to position the organisation as among the best performers in Australasia in relation to patient satisfaction. Over nine out of 10 patients recently surveyed said they are ‘extremely likely’ to recommend us to friends and family.

Southern Cross is a group of independent businesses united by a shared brand with an interest in the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. With a range of products and services and a not-for-profit ethos, Southern Cross is New Zealand’s leading independent provider and funder of healthcare.