At the front of the hospital the construction of our new larger Medical Assessment Planning Unit (MAPU) and Emergency Department Observation Area (EDOA) is complete. It was formally opened by the MP for Palmerston North, Tangi Utikere, on Friday, 17 February 2023. The project commenced in 2020 and its journey is set out in this information booklet.

The new MAPU and EDOA facility helps us manage the flow of people through the hospital.

MAPU provides acute medical assessment and now has 20 beds - an increase of seven. This unit was previously located on the hospital's fourth floor alongside a surgical ward. Its new location, alongside the Emergency Department, will support the management of patients who can be assessed, treated and discharged or transferred within 36-48 hours. It is planned that MAPU will accept referrals direct from general practice in the future. Feedback from both patients and staff on the facility has been very positive.

 EDOA, a 6-bed unit currently within ED, manages ED patients over 16 years of age who require a short period of observation (up to 12 hours) before they can be discharged.  The new unit has 10 beds and will free up space within the ED unit for its use. EDOA will move into the new Unit in early April. Meantime, it is being used by Ward 27 while that ward’s oxygen and ventilation systems are upgraded as part of the hospital’s COVID-19 response.

 The expanded MAPU and EDOA enables greater co-ordination and collaboration of the acute triage and assessment services.