Health Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed that the new inpatient building for Dunedin Hospital will be constructed on the site of the former Cadbury factory. Brown, who recently took on the portfolio, announced that the facility will initially have 351 beds, with the potential to expand to 404 beds over time.
“Today, I am providing the people of Dunedin with certainty that we will build the new Dunedin Hospital, ensuring timely, quality healthcare for the residents of Dunedin and the surrounding Otago and Southland regions,” Brown stated. He also mentioned that measures have been taken to control cost overruns.
Upon opening, the new Dunedin Hospital will feature:
– 351 beds, expandable to 404 beds
– 20 short-stay surgical beds, introducing a new model of care
– 22 theatres, with the capacity to expand to 24 theatres
– 41 same-day beds to enhance access to specialist and outpatient procedures
– 58 emergency department spaces, including a short-stay unit and specialized emergency psychiatric care
– 20 imaging units for CT, MRI, and X-ray procedures, with 4 additional spaces for future advancements
The initial proposal included 410 beds and a 53-bed emergency department. However, due to budget constraints, the government sought advice on two options: reducing the number of floors and delaying the fit-out of some areas or a staged development at the old site. These potential cutbacks led to significant community backlash, including a protest attended by an estimated 35,000 people.
In response to the community’s concerns, Brown emphasized the government’s commitment to building the hospital the region needs. Last year, an additional $290 million was invested in the project, bringing the total funding to $1.88 billion. Brown assured that the new hospital would be built on the former Cadbury factory site, despite construction challenges such as contamination, flood risk, and access issues.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich expressed cautious optimism about the project moving forward, acknowledging that while not all services and facilities would be available immediately, there was a clear intention to provide them eventually.
Labour’s health infrastructure spokesperson, Tracey McLellan, highlighted the community’s victory in securing the hospital but criticized the delays and cost-cutting measures. She emphasized the need for the government to deliver on its promises without compromising healthcare quality.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) also expressed disappointment, noting that the new hospital would open with fewer beds than initially planned, potentially impacting job opportunities for nurses. NZNO President Anne Daniels criticized the government’s decision, stating that it prioritized cost-cutting over the health and wellbeing of the Southern community.
