Dunedin Hospital staff are doing a "damned fine job in difficult circumstances" but they cannot keep on doing it forever, Otago District Health Board chairman Errol Millar says.
He was referring to the fact the board is still waiting to hear whether it will get funding this financial year for much-needed upgrades for some of its outmoded facilities.
Health Minister Tony Ryall indicated in November a decision one way or another was only about a month away, but none has yet been conveyed.
Mr Millar said it would be the first wish he would like granted for the New Year - " I think it would do wonders for morale down there."
He praised the work of staff in areas such as the neonatal intensive care unit, where staff were working under cramped conditions but doing a great job.
People in similar circumstances might be "screaming from the rooftops, but they continue to do a damn fine job".
There could come a point where questions would be asked about clinical safety because of the conditions.
The "enormous efforts of staff" were keeping that at bay in the meantime, but that could not go on forever.
The board has put forward two options for funding.
One is for $38 million for the full first stage of the master site project, which would move some services to Wakari Hospital.
The other option, which would cost $23.6 million, would involve the core of the first stage and would include relocating the acute mental health ward to Wakari Hospital and upgrading the neonatal intensive care unit.
Much preparatory work has been done on these two projects and the property team has said work could begin within months of approval being granted.
Among the areas of ongoing concern are the intensive care unit, the neonatal intensive care unit, acute mental health ward, children's ward and the paediatric assessment unit, all of which are included in the full first stage of the master site project.
Further concerns have been expressed about the rundown state of some outpatient areas.
