The future of the pathology department has been up in the air since successive governments appeared to ignore the recommendation from a health group to build a new wing attached to the new Dunedin hospital and instead looked towards cheaper solutions.
Mark Patterson, the Taieri-based list MP for New Zealand First and Minister for Rural Communities, visited Cr John Chambers and health advocate Terry Taylor at the Dunedin City Council chambers on Friday.
Cr Chambers and Mr Taylor have been campaigning for pathology to be included in the site for several years, even as the nearly $2 billion hospital project had its delays and controversies.
Mr Patterson said it was good to have ‘‘robust’’ discussion, and felt all landed on the same side of the debate.
‘‘It’s a strong case; it’s an obvious thing to do. It’s up to us to find some money to do it,’’ Mr Patterson said.
Mr Taylor, a past-president of the New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science, has asked Health New Zealand previously about the future of the pathology department, particularly as the new Dunedin hospital will feature an empty ‘‘shelled’’ floor.
Mr Patterson said he agreed using the shelled floor sounded like the obvious solution.
‘‘This isn’t a Dunedin story per se, it’s a Southern story. Simple as that.’’
While he said he could not ‘‘unilaterally’’ announce NZ First election policies, he suspected the party would campaign locally for the pathology department to be situated inside the inpatient building.
‘‘Obviously, there’s a bit of competition for that space, but the area will be there, so it’s a matter of just fitting it out, which doesn’t seem like it’s too difficult.’’
He was also impressed by the ‘‘good progress’’ on the outpatient building, which should open later this year.
He appreciated there had been delays to the inpatient building in the past, but now was the time to press forward.
‘‘I think all of us, everyone, wants to see this project progress as quickly as possible.
‘‘Let’s get on and do it.’’
Mr Taylor said it was a productive meeting which covered a range of subjects about the new Dunedin hospital.
‘‘We covered a lot of topics, but the main takeaway is NZ First’s commitment to ensure that the pathology and the diagnostic services will be on the site of the hospital and provide exactly what’s needed for our urban and rural communities,’’ he said.
Mr Taylor said the Southern community should expect nothing less than a ‘‘world-class’’ pathology service at the new Dunedin hospital.
The inpatient building is expected to open in 2031.
