17 Oct 2017

NZ disaster response improved by new portable hospital

11:27 am on 17 October 2017
A view from the resuscitation area in the new portable medical facility, which has helped the New Zealand Medical Assistance Team (NZMAT) to earn World Health Organization classification as a Type 1 Mobile and Fixed Outpatients Emergency Medical Team.

A view from the resuscitation area in the new portable medical facility, which has helped the New Zealand Medical Assistance Team (NZMAT) to earn World Health Organization classification as a Type 1 Mobile and Fixed Outpatients Emergency Medical Team. Photo: Supplied/ NZMAT

New Zealand's resources for disaster response in the Pacific have been enhanced by a new mobile, high tech, tent hospital.

The emergency management director for New Zealand's Ministry of Health, Charles Blanch, said the portable facility was the culmination of five years work.

He said it will allow the New Zealand Medical Assistance Team to run an outpatient care facility in just about any disaster situation.

Mr Blanch said the facility would be able to provide its own water, generate its own electricity and have full communication links.

NZMAT’s new high-tech tent hospital has improved New Zealand’s ability to save lives and give emergency health care when disasters strike the South-West Pacific region.

NZMAT’s new high-tech tent hospital has improved New Zealand’s ability to save lives and give emergency health care when disasters strike the South-West Pacific region. Photo: Supplied/ NZMAT

"That all translates to be able to treat about 100 outpatients for a minimum of two weeks before they get re-supplied," he said.

"So it is a significant increase in capability from the mobile teams that we have deployed to disasters in Vanuatu and Fiji and the Solomon Islands in recent years."

He said the tent is easy to transport and can be erected in 90 minutes.

It has just been given World Health Organisation classification.

NZMAT’s new high-tech tent hospital gets checked by the World Health Organization.

NZMAT’s new high-tech tent hospital gets checked by the World Health Organization. Photo: Supplied/ NZMAT