Middlemore Hospital is blighted by rot and mould, earthquake weaknesses and asbestos that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to fix.
Middlemore hospital Photo: Google Maps
Yet the Treasury has been rating Counties Manukau District Health Board that runs Middlemore, as among the best DHBs since 2015.
The following timeline is based on Counties Manukau DHB's statements and Official Information Act responses to date:
1999-2001 - Four hospital buildings constructed for Counties Manukau DHB by Hawkins, and a fifth - the mental health unit - is built around this time; all five will shortly be leaking badly
Feb 2001 - DHB chief executive David Clarke is quoted in NZ Herald as not sitting around waiting for government funding for KidzFirst hospital
2006 - Further work on Scott building
2009-2013 - Treasury 2014 report for these years rates Counties Manukau as good for financial management, but with medical care problems
2011 onward - Christchurch earthquake and rebuild worsen the squeeze on funding to replace or renew hospital buildings nationwide
2012 - Large exterior cladding panel falls off Scott building outside dialysis unit
2012 - Checks on all Scott's panels identify widespread leaks; Manukau Superclinic leaks also found (outside 10-year limitation to sue the builder)
2012 - DHB lodges a High Court claim against Hawkins over the Scott building
Oct 2012 – Bad bacteria outbreak lasts till May 2013; subsequent inquiry finds toilet facilities for dialysis patients inadequate and that “exposed sewer pipes in sterile store” in Scott Building had leaked previously
2012-onwards - Some repairs undertaken at buildings but not comprehensive
2013 - Leaks identified at Kidzfirst children's hospital
2014 - Leaks identified at McIndoe building
Nov 2014 - Internal DHB report is released showing sewer pipe leak is among factors that from October 2012-May 2013 may have contributed to 14 serious infections at Scott Building
Early 2015 - Building Disputes Tribunal finds regarding Scott building that the principal problem was Hawkins failure to fix the cladding properly
Early 2015 onwards - Building reports, risk registers and legal opinions go to board and chief executive about leaks. DHB refuses to release these board minutes to RNZ in March 2018
2016 - Demolition begins of leaking mental health unit
2016 - Leaking issues outlined to Ministry of Health, according to DHB
June 2016 - Counties Manukau scores highly across Treasury rankings, including being the only DHB to be given a perfect score across all key performance indicators
2017 - Sewage and sanitation problems are again raised with board
Early 2017 - DHB and Hawkins reach out-of-court cash settlement on Scott building claim; terms and amount are confidential but RNZ understands it is for $3 million
Feb 2017 - Treasury rates Counties Manukau among top half of DHBs for repairs and maintenance
April 2017 - Hawkins bought by Australian company Downer
May 2017 - DHB chair Lester Levy warns of a financial crisis ahead; a planned $8 million extension of Ko Awatea innovation hub is put under review
May 2017 - DHB's chief executive of 11 years, Geraint Martin, leaves
Mid-2017 - DHB commissions first overall expert appraisal of buildings
June 2017 - Middlemore's Ko Awatea innovation hub (it has no medical services) cancels two big conferences to save money
Oct-Nov 2017 – Two incidents of “serious” cracks of PVC sewage pipes in Scott Building in Ward 1 and retail area.
Nov 2017 - Independent surveyor Alexander and Co gives DHB report outlining serious extent of building failings
Feb 28, 2018 - Board agrees to turn fifth floor of Galbraith building into a ward to cope with winter rush, despite quake-prone status and asbestos
Photo: Supplied
March 8 - Internal DHB risk report says "we have an ageing building stock that has not been adequately maintained and is no longer fit for purpose"; it warns that repairs may interrupt essential services
March 12- RNZ reports Counties Manukau DHB's financial management between 2013-16 is being reviewed
March 20 (approx) - Government approves $11.5 million extra towards $27.5 million repairs at Scott building
March 22 - RNZ reports based on OIA that four hospital buildings are full of rot and mould. Health Minister David Clark says he knew about only one, the Scott
March 22 - DHB's five-year repair plan to 2022 shows only the design work on Scott has begun
March 23 - Former Health Minister Jonathan Coleman tells RNZ says he was not briefed about extent of decay; former DHB chair (2013-16) Lee Mathias says "most people in Wellington knew"
March 24 - DHB says it is not monitoring walls for toxic mould seeping into rooms, or putting up barriers in case cladding falls, despite clear recommendations to do this
Photo: Supplied
March 27 - DHB says it may be easier to demolish than fix its buildings; tells RNZ it did not do repairs because Minister Coleman wanted it to stay in surplus
March 28 - DHB confirms RNZ report of sewage leaks into walls of Scott building
Early April - Draft budget obtained by RNZ includes $8.6 million extension of Ko Awatea in 2017-18 despite 2017 review and cladding overhaul not having begun
April 3 - DHB confirms RNZ report of major power supply failures at Middlemore and Superclinic since 2017
April 3 - National Party leader Simon Bridges says previous Government not responsible for Middlemore woes
April 4 - RNZ reports a confidential DHB map showing seven buildings red-zoned for having multiple leaking, asbestos and seismic issues, including Superclinic. Scott, McIndoe and Kidzfirst rate as only orange-zoned or under despite their problems
April 11, 2018 – Minister Clark puts board member Mark Darrow and chair Rabin Rabindran on notice.
