New hospital plan revealed

Health Hub hospital

A surgical hospital where patients stay for up to 48 hours will form part of the new $150 million Cambridge Health Hub on Laurent Road.

An artist’s impression showing the revised Health Hub hospital

The hospital replaces what was to be a single-storey Rehabilitation Hub which was to have a physiotherapist’s studio, indoor and outdoor gymnasium, hydrotherapy pool and smaller tenancies.

It will be a four-theatre hospital with a two-theatre day surgery function.

The site will still have a general practitioner and urgent care doctors’ surgery, pharmacy, radiology, blood collection, dentist, audiology, orthodontist and optometrist.

The developer, named in Waipā District Council papers as Medical Pacific Ltd, resubmitted a revised resource consent last year reflecting the change. The original one was granted in 2021.

Luk Chin

Companies Office records show Medical Pacific was removed from the registry in May 1992, but a company called The Health Hub Cambridge Ltd – registered in April 2020 with anaesthetist and trotting trainer and driver Luk Chin and P & J Hogan listed as shareholders – does appear on the registry.

The News interviewed Chin last year and he confirmed he was developing the facility with Justine Lady Hogan, widow of legendary horse breeder Sir Patrick Hogan.

The 81-year-old says he is determined to get the New Zealand health service back on track.

He will talk at a Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 event at Shoof next month where he will give an overview on The Health Hub progress.

Dunedin-born Chin first came to the Waikato in 1966 when he trained as a house surgeon at Waikato Hospital. It was when he headed overseas in the late 1960s that he met his Australian wife to be Robyn. The two married in 1969 and went on to have two sons – David, chief executive at LIC and Andrew, strategy manager at Auckland City Council – and now five grandchildren.

Chin worked at Waikato Hospital for more than 40 years – becoming a leading intensivist and pain specialist – and while there helped develop the Anglesea Clinic in Hamilton.

He still trains a small team of trotters at his Bruntwood Road property and drives regularly at Cambridge Raceway and in Auckland.

See: On the buses

See: Health Hub unveiled

See: Winning tip from the stables

An artist’s impression showing the revised Health Hub hospital with Victoria Road in the background.

 

More Recent News

MP ties knot in the house

Local Taupō MP Louise Upston married partner Hamish Craig on Saturday –  at their Karāpiro home. The couple, who have been together for a decade, surprised friends who came to their house at 6pm by…

Racing hub site revealed

Dairy land tagged for mega racing hub Waikato Thoroughbred Racing has secured a conditional deal to buy 150 hectares south of Hamilton, marking the first major step toward relocating and modernising the region’s thoroughbred racing…

Well hello, dollies …

Members of the Cambridge 60s Up group have enjoyed two decades of companionship, but it is a connection with knitted dolls aimed at comforting those in need that has taken their fancy in recent years….

Ninety years – 100 celebrate

When the Kairangi Hall committee got together to discuss something special to celebrate the hall’s 90 years, the Kairangi Hall Summer Festival was initiated. Over 100 people attended the celebration and family gathering at the…