Dunedin Hospital

Getting teams throughout Dunedin Hospital to work together is the key to shortening stays in the emergency department and is not rocket science, Medical Officer of Health (Southland) David Tulloch says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has approved up to $2.7 million funding for the observation unit at Dunedin Hospital's emergency department.

Dunedin Hospital is still being used for Southland terminations because of the Christchurch earthquake.

Seven years ago, Dunedin Hospital management was warned its acute theatre management was a "red light" issue for the organisation.

Space constraints continue to pose problems for those charged with coming up with a concept plan for the proposed gastrointestinal disease centre at Dunedin Hospital by September 30.

Some issues were raised about health records management in a regular review of Southern District Health Board quality improvement processes.

Parents have been in tears over a termination notice served last week to Dunedin Hospital Early Childhood Centre by the Southern District Health Board, chairwoman Rachael Lee says.

Concerns the controversial National Health Board report on Dunedin Hospital was confused, based on perception and ignored financial restraints were aired by some Southern District Health Board members in Queenstown yesterday.

Dunedin Hospital would be "dead last" in New Zealand for prompt emergency department treatment if it were not for Southland Hospital propping it up, intensive care clinical leader Mike Hunter told a health symposium in Dunedin yesterday.

It is "almost immoral" not to introduce safety improvement changes that potentially save lives, Dunedin Hospital internal medicine specialist Dr Andrew Bowers told a health systems symposium in Dunedin yesterday.