Outpatient Christchurch building completed $ 7.8 million less than expected

Christchurch's new Outpatient Building was built with millions of dollars, one-tenth of its budget, to save.

The bright orange building at the corner of Tuam St and Oxford Tce opened to the public last month.

The implementation of the project was the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, under the supervision of the Hospital Redevelopment Partnership Group (HRPG).

Members of the Canterbury District Health Council (CDHB) criticized the model, but although the building suffered some delays, it generated $ 7.8 million less than its overall budget of $ 72 million.

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A spokeswoman for the ministry said the building, which will house 27 services, was less complex than other health projects.

"There was little variation in design during the construction period."

The outpatient experience contrasts sharply with the acute care facility, a massive project on the other side of the Christchurch Hospital campus, which represents approximately $ 40 million out of an initial budget of $ 445 million. .

The spokeswoman said the $ 7.8 million under-spending would be part of the overall health capital budget and would be allocated according to the priority agreed by the ministers of health and finance.

It has been suggested that this could be channeled into the acute care services project.

No additional funding has been requested beyond the current budget of $ 483 million, the spokeswoman said. Things revealed in September, further increases were possible.

The minutes of the HRPG meeting in August indicated that under-spending would be absorbed by the funds allocated to health projects.

"However, once the financial consequences of ASB (short – term services) are known, a request can be made through the intermediaries of the ministers to allocate this under – spending to the budget. ASB ", indicates the minutes.

He suggested that the funds could be reinjected into the general program of work.

Andy Dickerson, a member of the CDHB, said the money would be well spent for building acute care services or to solve the parking and access problems currently underway at the Christchurch Hospital and in the building of outpatients.

Additional funding also seems necessary, Things includes, for the new Hillmorton Hospital campus facilities for mental health services currently stranded at Princess Margaret Hospital.

An initial business case indicated expenditures of up to $ 57 million. However, the proposed changes to the size of the facilities (if accepted) mean that additional funding will be required.

CDHB members hope that an announcement on the project will be made before the end of the year.