SPIRE Project

The Surgical Procedural Interventional Recovery Expansion (SPIRE) project was an interim solution to expand surgical, gastroenterology and cardiology capacity while planning for the major hospital redevelopment programme occurred. Two additional theatres were added, bringing the total to nine. The number of procedure rooms was increased from two to four, and the first provincially based interventional cardiac catheterisation laboratory was established. In addition, an expanded day of surgery admission (DOSA) unit and the recovery unit were developed to support the additional number of patients which will now be seen.

The project was delivered in two stages. Stage 1 involved DOSA, Recovery, Gastroenterology, and a staff area. This was completed on 13 February 2023. Stage 2 included the theatres and the cath lab, as well as the installation of ancillary plant on the roof top. This was completed by the end of 2023. The project started in 2020 and provides much needed extra surgical capacity which will enable surgical services to manage growing waiting lists. The cath lab bolsters and increases local and regional cardiology services and access, with fewer patients now having to travel outside the district for this care.

December 2023
Cardiac Cath Lab & New Theatres completed

Take a tour through both the new Cardiac Cath lab and new theatres as part of the completion of the Major Capital Project SPIRE.
This is a significant community outcome for the MidCentral region, ensuring access to services are closer to home so that heart patients avoid travel and can be close to whanau and friends on their road to recovery.

New Cardiac Cath Lab

New Theatres

Nov - Dec 2023 | Milestones

In November 2023, the new theatre and procedure rooms went into use. All surgical specialties now have additional theatre sessions.

The interventional cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) began services in early December. It is the region’s first provincially based cath lab, bolstering and increasing local and regional cardiology services and access.

Across all areas, as soon as the construction team completed work, commissioning began. Equipment, including clinical and digital, was installed. Deep cleans were undertaken, the rooms stocked with clinical supplies, signage installed and a great deal more from a wider support team.

  • Staff oversee the new theatre

  • A new theatre

  • 7 November 2023 - New theatre

  • 7 November 2023 - New theatre scrub bay

  • 15 Nov 2023 - New procedure room

  • The new cardiac cath lab

  • The new cardiac cath lab

  • The new cardiac cath lab

Feb - Dec 2023 | Stage 2 Construction

The construction of the cardiac cath lab, operating theatres and the fourth procedure room involved a lot of work, putting the services in place. As sterile environments, strong controls around temperature, humidity and air changes per hour were required. Medical gases, suction, power, heating and ventilation systems, energy and water also needed to be installed.

  • Feb 2023

  • Mar 2023

  • 19 Apr 2023 - Theatre 9

  • 19 Apr 2023

  • May 2023

  • 3 May 2023 - Cath lab

  • 18 May 2023 - Cath lab

  • 15 Jun 2023 - Piping for key services

  • 16 Jun 2023

  • Jul 2023

  • Jul 2023

  • 31 Aug 2023 - Cath lab

  • 31 Aug 2023 - Theatre 9

  • Aug 2023 - new theatre

  • 14 Sep 2023

  • 3 Oct 2023

  • 13 Oct 2023

  • Sep 2023 - Theatre store room

Jan 2023 | Stage 2 Demolition

Stage 2 commenced as soon as Day of Surgery (DOSA) services moved into their new area. This phase was increased to include, theatre storage areas, the theatre patient reception area and the PACU nurses station.

  • Jan 2023 - Stage 2 begins

  • 26 Jan 2023 - Old DOSA demolition

  • 26 Jan 2023 - Old DOSA demolition

  • Jan 2023 - DOSA demolition

  • Feb 2023

  • Feb 2023

Jun 2022 - Oct 2023 | Rooftop ancillary plant installation

The new theatres and cath lab are supported by a plant room located on the roof. Scaffolding, air handling units and other materials and equipment were craned in. Existing concrete sunshades had to be removed to make way for new pipework and ventilation systems.

  • May 2022 - Walkway on roof top

  • Jun 2022 - Craning in material

  • Jun 2022 - Arriving in drop off zone

  • Scaffolding and gear in place for Sunshade removal

  • First sunshade placed onto trolley for taking out

  • Half the sunshades removed

  • Sep 2022 - Roof space develops

  • Oct 2022 - Framing on roof goes up

  • Nov 2022 - Tent on rooftop comes together

  • Feb 2023 - Rooftop fully covered with plant installation prep beginning

  • Apr 2023 - Roof fully covered and prep for air handling install begins

  • Jun 2023 - Installation plant on roof top

Feb 2022 - Feb 2023 | Stage 1 Milestones

Throughout the construction period, new facilities came into operation. First was the theatre change rooms in February 2022, followed by the decontamination suite in July and the first Procedure Room in October. The new Day of Surgery Unit opened February.

  • Feb 2022 - Theatre change rooms complete

  • Feb 2022 - new theatre staff change area

  • July 2022 - Decontamination suite complete

  • Sep 2022 - New procedure room 3

  • Feb 2023 - New DOSA Opening

  • Feb 2023 - New Day of Surgery (DOSA)

  • Feb 2023 - New nurses station in recovery unit

  • Feb 2023 - New recovery area

  • Feb 2023 - Recovery Unit

  • Feb 2023 - New Gastro suite

  • Feb 2023 - Expanded Gastro suite

  • Feb 2023 - Gastroenterology Unit

  • Feb 2023 - New peri-operative staff area

Dec 2021 - Feb 2023 | Construction - Stage 1

Construction on Stage 1 was completed in 14 months and involved many trades and professionals. It also involved close engagement with clinical teams to minimise disruption to working spaces.

  • Dec 2021

  • 12 Jan 2022

  • Feb 2022 - SPIRE Changeroom 1

  • 16 Mar 2022

  • 11 Apr 2022

  • 9 May 2022

  • 22 Jun 2022

  • 12 Jul 2022 - Supporting outlets for medivators

  • 5 Aug 2022 - Procedure room in Gastro’ area takes shape

  • 19 Sep 2022 - Neptune machines and docking stations installed

  • 6 Oct 2022 - DOSA/Recovery nurses’ station

  • Nov 22 - Finishing trades at work

  • 21 Dec 2022 - Blessing

  • Jan 2023 - Stage 2 underway with demo of old DOSA area

  • Feb 2023 - Demo works almost complete

November 2021 | Demolition - Stage 1

Opening up of the site to enable the construction works to begin. These included significant work to install and connect the many, largely unseen, services required to support these clinical areas, e.g. medical vacuum, oxygen and air, energy and water, and heating and ventilation.

  • 5 Nov 2021

  • 11 Nov 2021

  • 16 Nov 2021

  • 22 Nov 2021

  • 24 Nov 2021

  • 30 Nov 2021

October 2021 | Construction site blessed and set up

Construction agreed to be undertaken in two stages to enable services to continue. Stage 1 (Describe) and Stage 2 (Describe), with theatre change room upgrade done during Christmas/New Year 2021-22.

  • Sep 2021 - Maycroft construction crew on-site

  • Oct 21

  • Oct 2021

  • Oct 21

  • Oct 21

Dec 2019 - Jul 2021
The beginning - turning a concept into a detailed design

We developed a concept design and business case, secured Government support and funding, and then completed the design process and relocated services to make way for construction to commence.

A plan for increasing surgical capacity and establishing a local interventional cardiac catheterisation laboratory

The design process.