Previously, Prime Minister Bill English announced Dunedin would get a new $1.4billion hospital, funded by a public private partnership (PPP). National did not give a start date but said it would take seven to 10 years to build.Labour leader Jacinda Ardern then announced Labour would build the hospital, starting in its first term, but without an end date. Labour would not use a PPP.
Each of the six Dunedin North candidates was given a choice of answering one of five questions. Both Dr Clark, who answered first, and Mr Woodhouse took their allotted three minutes.
Dr Clark said Labour was committed to starting the rebuild in its first term, a point he made several times.
"I hope that will be sooner than later but there will be no PPP. The overseas examples are atrocious. In the United Kingdom and Australia there had been significant delays."
He decried the state of Dunedin Hospital, saying surgeries were cancelled because of leaks in the roof and staff had to wear Hazmat suits to retrieve files.
That would allow Dunedin to attract top talent to the Otago Medical School.
"They can walk across the road to the education and research facilities, walk to a cafe to discuss their research and go to the green parks to meet their kids after work."
"I will be driving this hard if I am the health minister. Labour is to prioritise health in Dunedin."
Mr Woodhouse, who has a background in health management, hit back at Dr Clark’s version of history and rewound events back 18 months.
The previous government did not in 2014 promise a new hospital, Mr Woodhouse said.
It was recognised the clinical services block (CSB) was "stuffed" and needed an upgrade.
"We asked for a business case by 2015 and once we went through that process it was clear there were many major problems. The CSB was built in 1981 and should have lasted much longer."
The Government allocated $300million for the CSB.
A later report identified the main wards were uneconomic to refurbish and needing to be be replaced, he said.
He discounted claims by Green candidate Niki Bould there was a conflict between a hill site at Wakari and a flat site in the city.
"What we need is 3ha to 4ha of clear land. None is available and we have to work through that.
"What we will do is find space that is right for the patients, not the doctors, although they are not mutually exclusive."
A 10-year rebuild would be the fastest in New Zealand’s history by a considerable margin, Mr Woodhouse said.
NZ First candidate Warren Voight supported the rebuild of the hospital but he could not comment on the site.
The Opportunities Party candidate, Abe Gray, was behind the rebuild but said professionals at the hospital, of which his wife was one, were sceptical, as they had been told some services would come from Christchurch.
Dr Bould supported the rebuild but deferred to Dr Clark for his explanation.
Act New Zealand candidate Sam Purchas supported the rebuild.
About 40 people attended the meeting at the North East Valley Baptist Church, chaired by church minister Steve O’Connor.
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Comments
National have had 9 years to deal with Dunedin Hospital. They have not and it has deteriorated to the point of danger. Private enterprise is not welcome for public health. It has not worked in other countries so why attempt it here.