Wrongly built unit means theatre changes

The Southern District Health Board says it is able to accommodate a French-built ventilation unit made to the wrong specifications for its new operating theatre in Dunedin Hospital.

Because of the incorrect specifications, the theatre's ceiling would be 5cm lower than its design.

In a statement emailed from a board spokeswoman, surgical medical director Murray Fosbender said the ceiling would be lower, but technical advice had said this would not have an adverse impact.

In an email to clinical leaders last week, obtained by the Otago Daily Times, Mr Fosbender asked the senior staff for urgent advice, saying a decision had to be made within 12 hours whether to accept the unit.

Not accepting it would have delayed the theatre, already behind schedule, by another four weeks, the email to staff said.

The long-awaited ninth theatre is set to open in May.

- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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