Intensive care units and hospitals are getting a boost of hundreds of millions of dollars, to help cope with whatever the pandemic will bring next.

100 million dollars has been earmarked to upgrade buildings and equipment, and another 544 million for operating costs including staffing.

The Health Minister, Andrew Little, said the first hospitals to see the cash is Auckland's North Shore, Tauranga and Christchurch with further announcement on the way.

Midday Report's Māni Dunlop spoke to Wellington Hospital ICU clinical director Alex Psirides.