High Dependency Unit opens at North Shore

WAITEMATA DHB’S LONG-AWAITED HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT (HDU) was officially opened on April 15. Located alongside the intensive care unit (ICU) on the first floor of North Shore Hospital the HDU provides a level of care in between general ward and ICU care.

A key concept in the unit’s planning was the flexible use of resources across ICU and HDU to accommodate peaks and troughs in demand and to facilitate ease of transfer of patients between units.

Typically High Dependency Unit patients will have single organ failure and be at high risk of developing further medical complications.

The HDU has a future capacity for eight beds but opened fully-staffed with four beds. The remaining beds will be introduced in a staged approach with the final beds available in September this year.

At the opening the DHB’s three intensivists – Drs Janet Liang, Jonathan Casement and Ywain Lawrey, along with charge nurse manager Amanda Tucker - were commended by Board chair, Kay McKelvie, for their involvement in the unit.

“This group lobbied hard for an HDU and they should feel incredibly proud to be standing here today in such a fine facility.”