The group that will plan the rebuild of the clinical services building at Dunedin Hospital is in the final stages of approval, it has been confirmed.
The Southern District Health Board previously handled queries on the matter, but on Monday referred questions to Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.
The ''partnership group'', to include representation from the Treasury, was being organised by the Ministry of Health.
Initially, it was to have been confirmed in April.
On Monday night, Dr Coleman's spokeswoman said the group was in the final stages of being formed.
Dunedin North MP Dr David Clark, who has been pressing the Government to speed up the $200 million project, said the delay forming the group was ''really slack''.
''The fact that the process has been delayed shows that it's not the priority for the minister that it should be.
''Again, it ties him and his office into the poor state of affairs in the South.
''One thing that the minister's office can drive and control ... is ensuring that there is a group ready and able to consider the next stage of developments at the hospital.''
In April, the Otago Daily Times reported the timeframe for the rebuild appeared to have slipped and detailed planning was to be completed by the end of 2016.
