Wellington is set to get a new children's hospital thanks to a donation from property developer Mark Dunajtschik, the Government has announced.
Mr Dunajtschik will pay for, build, and gift the hospital to Capital & Coast District Health Board. It will replace the current children's hospital which is almost 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose.
Existing child hospital and outpatient services will move into the new hospital, which will be named after Mr Dunajtschik.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said: "Mr Dunajtschik is a very successful businessman with a very big heart and his offer to build a new children’s hospital for Wellington is extraordinarily generous."
A new children's hospital was part of the DHB's long-term plan and construction would have started in the next several years, but the donation means it can be built within 18 months.
Around 4000 children and their families are admitted to child health services at Wellington Regional Hospital each year. More than 5000 children attended nearly 38,000 outpatient appointments.
The new hospital is expected to be around 7000 square metres and is expected to include 50 inpatient hospital beds. It will be located at the northern end of the Wellington Regional Hospital in the suburb of Newtown, and will be connected by a bridge.
Newshub.
