Rebuilding the clinical services building at Dunedin Hospital is now expected to cost $300 million, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says.
Dr Coleman visited Dunedin Hospital today accompanied by the new commissioner team appointed to govern Southern District Health Board.
He fronted a press conference this afternoon with commissioner Kathy Grant and her deputies, Richard Thomson and Graham Crombie.
Earlier, Dr Coleman and Ms Grant's team toured the hospital, where it had become apparent the team was well known to staff, he said.
"These people are already well known in the community and I think that's going to be strength, because in the end we want to take the community with us. Communication is going to be very important.
"People have indicated that they want to see strong leadership and change here and I think they're delighted to see that there's well known local people leading the team.''
Dr Coleman said he expects a business case to come to the Cabinet "at the start of next year'' for the delayed hospital rebuild.
"I want to get it up there [to Cabinet] as soon as possible.''
A $200 million approximate figure has been attached to the rebuild, but the cost was likely to be closer to $300 million, Dr Coleman revealed today.
"These things can increase in cost and it could be up to $300 million. That's the advice I've had.''
