Dunedin Hospital emergency department doctor and former Southern District Health Board member Dr John Chambers became the second high-profile clinician to speak out against the cuts, saying he was impressed by the local backlash to the $90 million design cutback announced by the Government in December.
"Unless Dunedin makes a noise, people in Wellington will just impose the cuts, because they have a different view on Dunedin," Dr Chambers said.
This follows the concerns of former Dunedin Hospital ear, nose and throat department clinical director Martyn Fields, expressed in the Otago Daily Times yesterday, that the hospital would be inadequate to meet the future needs of the area.
Prior to the cuts, he had sat through three major reviews and "watched with frustration and dismay" as the proposed footprint shrank down to 83,000sq m to fit the budget, he said.
Dr Chambers said he shared these concerns, and hoped the money could somehow be found to retain the original plan and make up for the $90 million shortfall.
"That’s what’s required, not downsizing the hospital."
As a former elected member of the SDHB, the cuts had come as a surprise to him, he said.
A plan had been under way to meet the $90 million shortfall, but he was unable to say where the funds would come from.
"The impression given to the board, before it wound up, was that things were changing but the money would all be sorted out."
The new hospital needed to open as soon as possible, because the current hospital was not coping with demand, Dr Chambers said.
The design changes were approved by the Government in order to meet a $200 million budget blowout.
While $110 million of additional funding was granted, the rest would be saved by reductions, including 12 fewer beds, two fewer operating theatres and the loss of the staff-focused Pavilion Building.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation, previously critical of the changes, has launched a petition urging the cuts to be reversed.
It asked for the Pavilion Building to be re-included in the design, and the inpatient building to be constructed as outlined in the detailed business case.
The cuts were described as "a false economy" that would increase costs in future due to the need to retrofit facilities and equipment.
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand director Rob Campbell this week defended the decision on social media.
"Capital spend on hospital projects is not manufactured out of fresh air.
"Te Whatu Ora is rightly expected to be rigorous in the spend and to prioritise wisely," he said.
Extensive input had been given about the needs of the new hospital, he said.
The project would not meet every wish, but would be a "valuable addition" to the hospital services available in the region.
- Are you a clinician who would like to share your view on the new Dunedin hospital design cuts? If so email reporters@odt.co.nz
