Southland Mayor responds to hospital rebuild downgrade

Southland District Mayor Rob Scott has issued a statement in response to the government’s announcement that it is going to revise the scope of the Dunedin Hospital rebuild.

“It is incredibly disappointing to hear of the further delays and cuts to this important regional tertiary hospital, and this will have an impact on Southland.

“We already have a postcode lottery when it comes to health in Southland, to the point that our dedicated community have gone out and built a charity hospital from scratch.

“Primary care services in our communities have depleted over the years, putting pressure on Southland Hospital, which was built too small 20 years ago. New Zealand needs to learn how to build long-term infrastructure better, and stop letting politics get in the way of delivery of these important multi-generational assets.

“Hospitals aren’t nice-to-haves, they are essential for the basic needs of our people, and the south is not going take this lightly. I feel that the protests over the weekend are just the start.

“I have written to Health Minister Shane Reti to express my displeasure at the government’s decision.”