North Shore Hospital

For North Shore LIJ Hospital on Long Island, see North Shore LIJ Health System

North Shore Hospital
View of North Shore Hospital across the adjacent Lake Pupuke.
Geography
Location	North Shore City, Auckland Region, New Zealand
Organisation
Care system	Waitemata District Health Board
Hospital type	Teaching, Specialist
Services
Emergency department	Yes
Beds	300+
History
Founded	1958 as a maternity hospital, 1984 as tertiary hospital
Links
Website	http://www.waitematadhb.govt.nz/
Lists	Hospitals in New Zealand

North Shore Hospital is a large public hospital in Takapuna, North Shore City, serving the northern part of the Auckland area. Located on Shakespeare Road near Lake Pupuke, it is administered by the Waitemata District Health Board, serving around 47,000 people a year.^[1]

Facilities

The hospital provides up to 131 surgical treatment beds and up to 163 general medical treatment beds. It has nine operating theatres (one specialised in obstetric care), an emergency care centre, an intensive care (5 beds) centre and a coronary care (8 beds) as well as a maternity and a special care baby unit.^[1]

The hospital also provides endoscopy, radiology, pathology, anaesthetic, gynecological, mental health services of Marinoto and Waimarire and cardio vascular services, there are also several other departments situated around the hospital and some services are near the hospital. Visiting specialists cover a number of further medical sub-disciplines. Two of the wards specialise in assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of older patients over 65 years of age.^[1]

Funding, Staffing

In 2007, North Shore Hospital has repeatedly reported 100% occupancy rates and difficulties in finding enough staff. This is alleged to be partly due to North Shore City's affluence, with the catchment area having some of the highest average incomes in New Zealand, as well as scoring high on other social indicators. As the District Health Board funding scheme distributes money based on these indicators, it has been claimed that it receives much less funding per population served than hospitals in other areas of the country.^[2]

The issues with staff shortages and overcrowding, repeatedly discussed in the press during the middle of 2007, have led two North Shore National MPs to inquire into the issue, noting that a 'crisis of confidence' had developed, which was generating more concern from locals 'than anything else in recent times'.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} North Shore Hospital (database entry on healthpoint.co.nz website. Accessed 2008-06-21.)
2. ^ "Editorial: Hospital funding not fair". The New Zealand Herald. 9 July 2007. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hospitals/news/article.cfm?c_id=500846&objectid=10450352. Retrieved 1 November 2011. 
3. ^ Hospital worries - The New Zealand Herald, Thursday 12 July 2007

Coordinates: 36°46′52″S 174°45′27″E / 36.781139°S 174.757397°E / -36.781139; 174.757397