Queen Mary was once housed in what is now university hall of residence Hayward College, before a 1990 move to the second floor of the main Dunedin Hospital building.
The Southern District Health Board yesterday confirmed a $1.6 million refurbishment programme for its maternity services, which will include one of the two 1990 Queen Mary theatres - now used as a clinical supplies storeroom - to be upgraded and briefly reborn as a theatre.
"It’s going to be a big project with huge benefits for mothers and babies," charge midwife manager Fiona Thompson said.
"There will inevitably be some noise and disruption as the project is under way, but it will all be worth it for the improvement in patient flow and services for new mothers."
A range of upgrades are planned for the service, including a full rebuild of the obstetric theatre.
Between nine and 13 acute and elective caesareans are performed in the theatre each week.
Yesterday the Otago Daily Times reported that the SDHB was awaiting approval from the government of $20 million for capital expenditure needed to keep the old hospital going until the new $1.4 billion new hospital project is finished.
Maternity is planned to be situated in the acute services block of the new hospital; that is scheduled to be the second of the two main hospital buildings to be completed, in 2028.
SDHB executive services director Patrick Ng said upgrades to the operating theatre and post anaesthetic care unit could not be delayed.
"Although we are building a new hospital, some aspects of improving the existing facilities cannot wait that long," he said.
"The theatre needed to be upgraded and will still have several years of life ahead of it, and will make a real difference to those working in the space and women using the services."
Work begins in the last week of February, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.
