Some of the new Dunedin hospital cuts were reversed by the former University of Otago infectious disease specialist as public opposition galvanised.
However, a much-touted medical learning centre was postponed indefinitely, and delays threaten the savings the changes were intended to bring.
The Labour government announced in December last year it would axe $90 million from the build, a move which — along with the addition of another $110m — aimed to rein in a $200m budget blowout.
Cuts included beds, scanners, pathology space, and the loss of the staff-focused pavilion building.
The new hospital build was going to be a major focus for her, Dr Verrall said when she took on the role in February.
"I trained in Dunedin Hospital and I know the very important meaning it has for the Dunedin and wider community," she said.
"I also know that the community is passionate about defending its health system. It is a very important project from the government’s point of view and a very big spend that we need to deliver on."
Abandoning the stance of predecessor Andrew Little that there were "no cuts" to the new hospital because it would still be bigger than the current one, she responded to the backlash — including campaigns by the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Daily Times — by reinstating $10m to the project in April.
This meant it was now a $1.68 billion project.
The boost included funding for an additional MRI machine and a complete fit-out of collaborative workspace.
At the same time she also announced reviews for two controversial cuts, the dramatic reduction in pathology space and the loss of 12 psychogeriatric beds.
In September, she announced a separate pathology building would be built close to the new hospital, and the cut beds would be reinstated.
The estimated cost of the new pathology building is $45m.
However, another major loss to the new hospital complex occurred in June, when Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic announced the interprofessional learning centre (ILC) would no longer go ahead.
The projected cost of the ILC had spiked from an estimated $50m in 2020, to more than $130m, a statement by the three partners said.
The value management process to find the $90m savings was also revealed to have delayed the opening of the inpatient building by nearly a year.
This means savings are at risk of erosion by inflation — a point emphasised by the National party, who last year pledged to reinstate $30m to the project if elected.
