Construction has started on a rapid-build 28-bed inpatient ward at Nelson Hospital to free up space for major redevelopment, including seismic strengthening, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

The project pairs about four months of off-site fabrication with roughly six months of on-site work, run in parallel to speed delivery and limit disruption to day-to-day operations. Once open, the ward is expected to ease current bed pressure and improve patient flow while a permanent inpatient building is completed.

Nelson’s ward is part of a programme of five rapid-build wards the Government is rolling out to quickly lift inpatient capacity. Work is already under way in Hawke’s Bay. The programme is backed by a $90 million Budget 2025 allocation that, according to the Minister, will add 140 new beds across key hospitals next year.

Officials say the rapid-build approach offers faster delivery at lower cost than traditional builds by shifting much of the construction off site. The Nelson ward is intended to support services across the Nelson Marlborough region.

Today’s announcement did not include a specific opening date for the Nelson ward, the total project cost, or details on who is delivering the build. The release also did not state whether the ward will remain in use once Nelson’s permanent inpatient building opens.