Wairarapa and Hutt Valley  – District Health Boards

Wairarapa and Hutt Valley DHBs have now merged and have a single Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team as they head towards their vision for the region of ‘single services over several sites.’ Capital & Coast DHB, based in Wellington, is the third partner in this 3DHB plan.

They provide medical and surgical hospital services, specialist services (such as plastic surgery and rheumatology) alongside primary and community-based healthcare.

Over 2,200 people are employed by the Hutt Valley DHB.  Most work at Hutt Hospital or for their community and regional health services.

Hutt Hospital – is the main facility and provides services to the region this hospital has 270 beds. This is a teaching hospital and with links to all the main medical universities.

  • Medical services including emergency department
  • Regional plastic surgery/maxillofacial and burn unit
  • Otolaryngology (ENT) service, audiology, dermatology and greater Wellington rheumatology services
  • Reconstructive and surgical services, including dental, general, ENT, gynaecology, and orthopaedic surgery
  • Maternity, child and youth health services
  • Mental health services, including the Central Region Eating Disorder Service (CREDS)
  • Community dental services including the School Dental Service for the greater Wellington region
  • Regional Public Health services
  • Regional Screening Services, including breast cancer screening, and cervical screening.

In 2014, the hospital celebrated its 70th anniversary.

Wairarapa Hospital – is Set in the heart of the region, they provide a full range of secondary medical, surgical and O&G services.

Wairarapa Hospital is a teaching hospital with links to the Wellington School of Medicine, the University of Otago Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, and Bachelor of Nursing programmes through the UCOL campuses at Palmerston North and Masterton.

The purpose built $30 million hospital was opened in 2006 with up to 92 beds, covering all aspects of secondary health care.

Wairarapa Hospital provides 24-hour acute/emergency services covering medical, surgical, obstetric, paediatric, assessment and rehabilitation for young and older adults, high dependency care and mental health.

They are well supported by neighbouring hospitals in Wellington and Hutt Valley for tertiary services, as well as working closely with our neighbouring hospitals in Palmerston North.

Wairarapa and Hutt Valley DHB’s actively support education and professional development. Colleagues in the neighbouring DHB’s Wellington and Palmerston North provide tertiary and visiting health services, and are actively supportive during referral or transfer of patients. There are opportunities for joint clinical involvement in audit, clinics and teaching. Likewise health support roles are encouraged to look beyond regional boundaries, to work with and learn from the experiences of others..

Lifestyle

Hutt Valley – lies between bush-clad hills along the Hutt River, home to hundreds of trails, sunset-soaked seaside villages, coffee roasters, and where New Zealand’s first settlers stepped ashore – all just 15 minutes from downtown Wellington.

Upper Hutt is the second largest city in the Wellington region.

Hutt City is made up of Lower Hutt suburbs and the CBD, Petone and Eastbourne on the harbour and the wilderness of Wainuiomata’s parks and stunning rugged south coast.

This is a city of more than 36,000 inhabitants just 25 minutes drive or a 40 minute scenic train ride north from Wellington. Upper Hutt is nestled by the Hutt River, it is set amongst bushclad hills with easy access to recreational pursuits ranging from quiet native forest and riverside walks, fishing to hunting, tramping and mountainbiking.

Wairarapa – is an hour’s drive north of Wellington and is the southernmost point of the North Island.

Coming from Wellington, you drive over the winding Rimutaka Hill road. Halfway down there’s a corner where the whole vista of the Wairarapa opens up before you, bush-clad ranges to the west across flat plains to a rugged coast on the east.

A rural area with an off-the-beaten-track charm, Wairarapa, offers travellers a wide range of experiences. Head up to the Waiohine Gorge at the foot of the Tararuas and a swing bridge is your gateway to tramping tracks into the ranges. Head out toCape Palliser on the coast and you’ll pass through the tiny fishing village of Ngawi where you’ll see a colourful array of old bulldozers and tractors parked on the beach

The Wairarapa reqion offers a fantastic lifestyle for all. With quality schools, strong community spirit, great beaches, world class vineyards, mountain ranges and a new hospital that opened its doors in 2005 to provide the community with a high standard of health care. This is a place that you can call home.