Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, Southland Mayor Gary Tong and Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks this week added their voices to the Dunedin City Council’s Dunedin Hospital SOS campaign.
In a video message, Mr Shadbolt said it was important for Southland residents accessing services or visiting loved ones at Dunedin Hospital that accommodation, supermarkets and other supporting infrastructure were nearby.
Mr Tong and Mr Hicks both wrote supporting the campaign.
Mr Tong said having a high-quality teaching hospital in the central city was critical for the people of Southland and Otago to ensure they continued to receive a high standard of care close to home.
Mr Hicks said the need for Dunedin to be the site of the pre-eminent tertiary health facility for the lower South Island was clear.
The council launched the campaign over concerns the Government, which has has set aside $300 million to cover the costs of a new Dunedin Hospital, could chose to rebuild it outside the city centre.
The council is concerned removing Dunedin Hospital from the central city would have a negative impact on patient accessibility, inner city businesses, and the close relationship the hospital has with the Dunedin School of Medicine.
