Unused Auckland ICU so ready to go it has sheets on beds and working clocks

An unused West Auckland intensive care unit is so ready to go it has sheets and pillowcases on the beds and working clocks on the walls.

More details have emerged about the six-bed Waitākere Hospital intensive care unit that had been due to open this year but no longer had a set opening date and had no staff and no operating budget.

A staff member at the hospital said they were amazed to see the level of set-up in the rooms.

Each one had everything needed to care for ICU patients - from the complex and technical machines to brand new pillows and neatly made beds.

There were new wheelchairs, patient hoists and day chairs.

All the admin equipment was in place too - computers, printers, office chairs and clocks set to the right time.

Two of the rooms had high tech resuscitators for babies, the staff member said.

Nurses Organisation delegate Neil Warrington worked next door to the new building and said a lot of staff were talking about it.

There was a degree frustration, he said.

"Very annoying. We've got all very old and tired equipment that we're asking to have replaced and the answer is no. We would like some of that nice equipment if it is not being used," he said.

Health NZ said its intention had always been to have the ICU running as part of a phased approach to opening its new Manaaki Hōhonu building which included a 30 bed urgent care ward.

However, Health NZ had previously said the ICU would be working this year.

It was now advertising for a clinical lead on a one year, part time contract but no other staff.

Health NZ said time and care was needed to make sure the highly specialised unit was set up properly and it would set a budget once it had decided the details of how it would be run.

However, the senior doctors union said the ICU was announced five years ago and that was plenty of time to have had a plan in place.

Warrington said the people of the west needed an intensive care unit and it should be up and running as soon as possible.