“We’re going to build a great hospital, but we’re going to do it for $1.9 billion”, PM tells protestors. Video provided by Otago Daily Times
| NZNO president Anne Daniels, who lives in Dunedin, said at Monday’s protest an initial crowd of 30 soon swelled to 100 as nurses and other locals turned up to express their anger that the Government had broken its promise to build a new hospital.
Ministers of Health and Infrastructure Shane Reti and Chris Bishop announced in late September that rising costs meant the long-planned hospital would have to be scaled back — or scrapped and the current old hospital redeveloped. Luxon’s visit on Monday came after a deluge of rain, flooding and slips pushed the region into a state of emergency. Advertisement 
Along with “build it once, build it right”, a new chant of “liar, liar, pants on fire,” quickly developed as Luxon was ushered past the protestors and into the Civil Defence Centre, amid a heavy police presence. “It’s the anger, the angst about being lied to in the lead-up to the election,” Daniels said. “This is how people are feeling — very, very betrayed.”  Talking to the press there, Luxon said he understood people’s frustration, but the Government would not be building the “most expensive hospital in the Southern Hemisphere at $3 billion”. “We are going to build a great hospital here in Dunedin, but it is going to be at $1.9 billion, not approaching $3 billion.” |
Health Minister ‘recognises passion’Minister of Health Shane Reti told Kaitiaki he “recognised the passion” in the recent Dunedin and Buller protests. “I recognise the passion reflected in Dunedin, and on the West Coast, and it’s important that’s acknowledged. I know New Zealanders care about their health services,” he said. “I absolutely also recognise and value the commitment and dedication of the clinicians and health team leads we spoke with in Dunedin last week.” Reti said he particularly valued the views of the the hospital’s clinical transformation group (CTG), which provides a clinical perspective on the hospital project, including that of nurses.  Its chair, Dunedin anaesthetist Sheila Barnett, said the group was preparing a response to the latest options “likely in the next few weeks”. Reti said the Government was “committed to building a new hospital” in Dunedin — and had increased its funding by hundreds of millions. “We promised $30 million during the campaign. We’ve set aside $290 million in Government – but as you’re aware, an independent review has shown that the project has now become so troubled that this still isn’t enough,” he said, referring to the Government-commissioned review by Australian infrastructure specialist Robert Rust.  Reti said it had been “difficult” to make the announcement but it had to be done so other builds in Nelson, Whangārei, Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North and Tauranga could be supported. “That’s not scaremongering as has been claimed – it’s a financial reality.” Daniels questioned how Reti was showing he valued clinicians’ input on the need for a new hospital, if he was disregarding it. “You can value something but you can also ignore it.” |