Waikato Business News July/August 2023

8 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, JULY/AUGUST 2023
Braemar expansion caters
for growing complex needs
Hamilton’s Braemar Hospital has
become the second largest private
hospital in New Zealand with the
completion of a new $6.5m 18-bed
surgical wing.
The new wing, the final
part of the second stage
of the charitable hospital’s
development was opened
recently by the outgoing
Braemar Charitable Trust chair
Victoria Ashplant.
It brings the number of
beds to 109, making the hospital
New Zealand’s second largest
private hospital on a single
site, after St George’s Hospital
in Christchurch, with 115 beds.
Braemar Hospital chief
executive Fiona Michel said the
milestone was another significant
achievement in the hospital’s
97-year history.
“We are proud of the growth
achieved, but also of our continued
commitment to recognising
and serving the needs of
the Waikato community.”
She said an awareness of
changing social and clinical
needs in the population dictated
decisions to expand, to
buy new equipment and to provide
space which helped healing.
The new wing has a dedicated
whaanau room where
family can have private time
while accessing outdoor space
on the roof garden.
“We always take a holistic
approach to design. Optimal
healing requires us to meet a
range of needs.”
The hospital has also been
actively supporting the public
health system.
“Private hospitals are now
a very significant part of the
health solution. Last year,
Braemar experienced an
incredible upswing in patient
demand. We have had record
numbers of patients (over
1000 a month). There are well
documented bottlenecks in
healthcare. We need to ensure
each part of the supply chain
is able to cope and that we are
not restrained by availability
of staff, post-theatre beds and
equipment – so developments
like our new wing will make
a tangible difference for our
community.”
Braemar was also seeing
patients with increasingly complex
needs. “Not all private
hospitals have the capability
to support complex cases that
need one-on-one care, but it’s
something that Braemar has
always been committed to.”
Investment in equipment
and clinical innovation continued
to drive decisions around
future capacity and efficiency.
The hospital’s most recent purchase
was a Velys robot used
in knee surgery. “New tech can
improve recovery times. Procedures
are more targeted and
the patient impact is reduced.”
Technological advances also
affect throughput, which influences
future planning. “Technology
provides solutions over
time. What hospitals may have
considered essential years ago,
may have already been solved
by technological innovation.
Leading-edge is constantly
being redefined in health.”
The hospital has plans to
further expand on its 4ha site
beside Waikato Hospital. The
hospital currently has nearly
Waste to energy
plant application live
A
proposal to construct a waste to
energy plant in Te Awamutu has been
reactivated.
An application to build the plant at 401
Racecourse Road was first lodged with Waipā
District Council by Global Contracting Solutions
in December 2021. The proposed plant
will incinerate 150,000 tonnes of waste annually
which will be used to generate electric
power from steam.
Global Contracting Solutions first lodged
the application seeking a non-notified resource
consent. This is a shorter and simpler process
but would not allow public input. Resource
consents are required when proposed activities
do not comply with the council’s District Plan.
In September 2022, council advised that
Braemar CEO Fiona Michel and Braemar
patient services manager Sheree Smith
Walk on the wild side with the Boon tours
200 credentialed specialists,
11 operating theatres and five
HDU/ICU beds.
public notification would be required. This
allows any member of the public, or organisation,
to make submissions.
Global Contracting Solutions has now paid
the fee required for the resource consent application,
meaning the consent application is now
live. The company is also seeking a resource
consent from the Waikato Regional Council
relating to discharge contaminants into the air.
That is also a publicly-notified process.
The resource consent applications will be
considered jointly by both councils.
Public submissions on the proposal will
open from Friday, September 15 and will close
on Friday, 13 October 2023. Public notices
advising the process will be placed in local
newspapers.
Ever walked down a
Hamilton street only
to be stopped in your
tracks by a stunning mural?
Behold the work of Boon
Arts, a charitable trust transforming
the city since 2017
with the aim of ‘art everywhere,
everyday’.
Boon murals are plentiful
in Hamilton's city centre, but
few know the stories behind
them, or even how many lurk
in the hidden alleyways of
Kirikiriroa. Enter the Boon
Street Art Walking Tours!
For over one hour, their
knowledgeable guides (many
of them artists themselves)
will help you discover the
secrets of some of the 70-plus
murals around Hamilton City.
Sponsored by Love the
Centre, the tours run every
Saturday through spring, from
the Saturday, September 2
until Saturday, November 25.
Tours leave from Love The
Centre, 10 Garden Place at
2pm, and take you around a
two block radius. It’s not far
to walk and there’s a tonne of
stories to keep you entranced.
These immersive tours are
the perfect opportunity to see
the world at a slower pace and
to really take in the vibrancy
and creativity of Hamilton.
Tour organiser Sasha
McLaren says people love
discovering or rediscovering
parts of the city they’ve never
seen before.
Sprinkled throughout is
some of the rich history and
kaupapa of Boon Arts, including
some surprising stories of
the who’s and why’s behind
how these stunning murals
came to be.
“I loved slowing down and
seeing the city in a new way…
This tour was very engaging
and I've learnt lots about the
mural culture in our community,"
says a previous attendee.
Boon also offer a range
of private bespoke tours, for
individuals, school groups,
small groups or whole teams.
These group tours are
ideal for businesses wanting
something different for their
team building and typically
finish up with a drink and
nibbles somewhere fabulous
- cocktails at Wonderhorse
anyone?
You can also book an
immersive private art tour,
which has a muralist as your
exclusive guide, and includes
a tour of their vibrant and
active art studio. These can
be arranged by contacting
sasha@boonarts.co.nz
With every tour booked
you’ll be supporting Boon’s
vision of more ‘art everywhere,
everyday’ and providing
an income for the creative
industries in Kirikiriroa.
Take a walk on the wild side
and book your tickets at www.
eventfinda.co.nz/2023/boonstreet-art-walking-tours/
hamilton.
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