Progress on new hospital pleases but costs concern

Health Minister Andrew Little says he is satisfied with progress on building the new Dunedin Hospital, but has hinted its $1.47 billion budget is under pressure.

On a visit to the city yesterday, Mr Little started his day with a site visit and met project staff.

"This is a big project, it’s a big build, and we are working closely with the DHB to make sure that we get the most out of it at a time when construction costs are starting to rise." Work is about to start on piling and groundworks, and building consents for the main hospital buildings are expected to be lodged once final designs are costed and approved. "I am very pleased with progress and I think that we are close to making final decisions so that we can get construction of the first of the two buildings under way," Mr Little said.

When asked if he was confident the project — which has already had its budget increased once — was still on time and on budget, he said: "The first budget was set some years ago and we always knew that there was going to be a cost risk about that.

"The most important thing is that we have a hospital that meets the needs of Dunedin and the Otago and Southland population." Also, while in Dunedin Mr Little, who qualifies for a free flu injection because of a brush with prostate cancer several years ago, received his jab for this year at Te Kaika in Caversham.

Mr Little also announced that criteria for free flu vaccinations were being expanded: over 65s and most health workers already qualify, but Maori and Pacific peoples aged over 55 will now also be entitled to a free vaccination.

About 39,000 people would benefit, he said.

"We have expanded this because they have a higher risk of flu ... we don’t want people to have a double infection of Covid and flu, and also we want to keep pressure off our hospitals."

Vaccine supply should not be a problem because 2 million shots had been ordered by the Ministry of Health last year, Mr Little said.

mike.houlahan@odt.co.nz