The numbers, released by Health Minister Andrew Little in response to written questions by National Dunedin list MP Michael Woodhouse, showed the proposed hospital would have 474 beds, compared with the 383 available at the hospital now.
However, the final numbers will depend on Cabinet approval of the detailed business case for the hospital — something which had yet to be granted, despite the original intention for that plan to be considered more than a year ago.
Mr Woodhouse said he believed the eventual number of beds might not represent a major increase on what the present building had when it opened.
"There is a bit of smoke and mirrors going on here regarding the degree to which the hospital is actually being increased in the new build, and I think there are serious questions to be asked and an honest comparison over time over the categories of beds in the past 40 years since the Great King St building opened ... and how does that compare to what we will be getting in the future?"
Actual bed numbers over time are difficult to compare as hospitals have swung between counting spaces where beds could be put and beds which have staff available and are assigned for patient use.
In 2007, a Ministry of Health audit said Dunedin Hospital had 455 beds, but that included all bed spaces available, even if there was not a physical bed there.
"The portrayal [by hospital planners] in my view, was for a much more material increase in beds than we are seeing," Mr Woodhouse said.
"And with the exception of the intensive care unit and ED there doesn’t seem to be any material increase and the case of the paediatric ward it is going to be smaller," he said.
The cost for the hospital may also prove to be an issue: the Government has conceded it will cost more than the initial budget of $1.4billion, although it has not said what it thinks the final figure might be.
Mr Woodhouse said it was time for "some honest conversations" about the new hospital project.
"It is concerning that if we are going to spend what could be up to $2billion on a shiny new hospital, that we should be confident that it is going to meet the needs of the community for at least 75-100 years."
In December, Mr Little told the Otago Daily Times the Government was committed to the hospital project.
"The building will meet the needs of the population it needs to serve, but we don’t know the final price of it yet."
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Insert the Labour party theme song here (you'll have to get the tune yourself)
Do do dododododo do do do, do do dododododo do do do
Look up "a musical joke", it's so fitting
Michael Woodhouse comes from working in the private health sector and did nothing in his party's 10yrs in power to improve our public hospital. On the contrary, Dunedin Hospital (and the public health system) became noticeably run down. At the same time, private hospitals boomed. He should be encouraging this new build- the best in the country- and an asset for us all.
Sorry Thruthy ... this problem goes back to when the other lot were in power as well.
I really would like to see what the Dunedin Hospital figures, both number of staff and remuneration paid, for each year, over the last 25 years for :-
1) The management "team"
2) The fees paid to consultants - non-medical and new build excluded
3) Medical staff - Specialist consultants, doctors, nurses, imaging technicians
4) Non medical staff - receptionists, orderlies, etc
5) Non medical technical staff - IT, etc
6) Operating costs - medical supplies
7) Operating costs - non medical. Power, communications, heating, etc.
8) The number of staff in each category
9) The turnover of staff, especially in nursing and junior doctors
It would be extremely interesting to compare figures and see if there's an obvious trend as to why the hospital is such dire straights that it's getting into code black.
I have a theory and probably a lot of people will be thinking the same way ...
Oh, and just to quantify my statements, you'd better give us the political party in power at the time ... wouldn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers now, would we ??
If you "really would like to see what the Dunedin Hospital figures" then I suggest doing an OIA request.
Life gets tougher for Woodhouse. May be a ward should be named after him?
The vast majority of hospital managers are overworked compared with the private / corporate sector.
The additional 19 inpatient ward beds for adult medicine and surgery will be nowhere near close enough to cope with our ageing population, increased complexity, and increased co-morbidity. SDHB could fill those tomorrow if there were enough nurses to open them.