We want the hospital to be built as promised. There has been significant investment in the new hospital already, and not building it as planned creates clinical risks. It means there’ll be workarounds, and people will fall through the gaps. The Government is trying to save money by not building the hospital as promised, but it will be the people of the South who pay. We need to act now!
With 350,000 people in the Otago and Southland region, the Southern Hospital services the largest region of any tertiary hospital in New Zealand. The hospital has an extensive helicopter rescue service that supports people in the regions. It’s also a teaching hospital, training the professionals who go on to serve in the health system throughout New Zealand.
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Infometrics Chief Economist Brad Olsen, as quoted in “Costs could rise $10m per quarter: economist”, Otago Daily Times, 14 October 2024.
The ambulance has been loaned to the campaign for free and is being driven by volunteer drivers. The primary costs of the ambulance are branding ($2725) and fuel.
On 20 October 2024 Dunedin City Council voted to fund $146,099 for the campaign. That’s $1.10 for every person in Dunedin.
There was a small (less than $50m) cost advantage to building there as the land did not need to be purchased – but the cost of demolishing and replacing the existing buildings would have made it a more expensive option overall. The location is also less convenient for clinical staff and students. Teaching hospitals are usually near students.
Dunedin’s first hospital is built in the Octagon
1851
Hospital moves to current site
1865
Hospital expanded, old buildings replaced, and lecture theatre added
1930s-80s
Hospital is built as we know it today.
Labour party campaigns on building new hospital
2017
Hospital announced to be built on old Cadbury factory site and neighbouring block by 2026
May 2018
Ministry of Health begins to reconsider hospital size to reduce budget
September 2022
Cuts confirmed, including a reduction in beds and MRI machines and delay of the PET-Scanner
December 2022
Pavilion building for staff is cut
January-March 2023
DCC and health professionals reject cuts, and launch the ‘They Save, We Pay’ (TSWP) campaign.
$10 million in cuts reversed and $97 million dedicated to the hospital’s data and digital infrastructure
April 2023
Health NZ, the University of Otago and Otago Polytech abandon plans for a learning centre
June 2023
National announces it will invest $30 million to restore cuts and build the hospital as originally planned if elected
July 2023
Labour reverses cuts to the pathology lab and 24 beds for elderly mental health patients. The TSWP campaign ceases
September 2023
Minister Reti says Govt is committed to the build, but refuses to confirm the $30 million will be honoured
January-June 2024
Government and Health NZ begin considering downgrading the NDH
August 2024
TWSP campaign relaunches, and coalition Government visits Dunedin to announce the NDH will be downgraded
September-October 2024
A march is held to protest cuts, and the campaign becomes ‘Save Our Southern Hospital’ with Cliff the ambulance to deliver our message.
Cliff heads to Wellington with the NZ Nurse’s Organisation to present the petition and deliver our message
November 2024