Fletcher Construction Ltd, was today awarded the $40 million construction contract for the Hutt Hospital emergency department and theatre re-development, which will begin in January.

Four companies were short-listed in the tender process, which included an independent panel member, and oversight from the Office of the Auditor General.

"Fletcher Construction bring a great deal of experience to the project and have impressed us greatly throughout the tender process," Hutt Valley District Health Board's chair, Peter Glensor, said.

"The new theatres and enlarged emergency department are much needed to relieve pressure on hospital facilities and to meet current and future demand.

"Our emergency department have been working in very trying conditions for many years and this decision gives them the reassurance that they will have world class facilities to deliver high quality and timely emergency care to our community.

"The new theatres will allow us to increase elective surgery to the Hutt Valley community and the region, and to continue to introduce new models of patient care as we move towards more day surgery.

"The project will provide excellent facilities to the Hutt community and will help ensure the hospital can viably meet the needs of the community into the future," Mr Glensor said. "The new buildings are being constructed to very high earthquake specifications and will provide stand alone emergency facilities in the event of a civil emergency."

Work on the re-development will begin on site on 11 January, with the entire project being completed in mid 2012.

The re-development project includes:

A new Emergency Department with the number of cubicles extended from 14 to 35

A 16 bed acute admission and planning unit next to the Emergency Department

The number of operating theatres extended from four to six (with provision to extend to eight) plus CSSD (Central Sterile Supply Department)

Increased space for pre and post operative care

New endoscopy and day medical unit

A new intensive care unit

A new mortuary

In October Hutt Hospital's elective surgery capacity was improved through the opening of two temporary pre-fabricated "clip-on " operating theatres, which will stay in place until the new theatres are completed.

"The clip on theatres have been in place for nearly three months and are proving to be a great asset to the hospital, providing an additional 20 surgical sessions per week," Mr Glensor said.

The re-development project is also expected to provide an economic boost for the local community, with in excess of 100 contractors working on the project over its duration."