It seems like North Shore will soon witness the flicker of that moment when emergency surgery will no longer setback elective surgery and patient waiting times will be chopped down by a great extent.

This vision will surely coincide with reality once a new $37 million elective surgery centre starts functioning at North Shore Hospital.

Tony Ryall, Health minister has revealed that the centre will host 40 beds, four operating theatres and will be staffed by 80 physicians.

It is being speculated that the centre will be the most medically advanced ‘elective surgery centre’ in the country.

It will reportedly execute almost 6000 operations each year based on all specialties, with roughly 25% being additional surgeries.

The upcoming surgery centre, which has gained a $37 million funding for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, falls hot on the heels of the hospital's Lakeview development.

Project ‘Lakeview’ is a 50-bed “Assessment and Diagnostic Unit” due to complete by October.

The new surgery centre, which is due to complete inside 2012, will provide that all important pickup to improve local health provision along with ensuring that patients who require a non critical surgery are attended within a precise time.

"The Elective Surgery Centre (ESC) will be a radically new concept for New Zealand that will deliver a more efficient, patient-focused service and have a major impact on reducing waiting times for non-emergency surgery”, said Mr. Ryall.