Up to 35,000 people protest over proposed cuts to new Dunedin hospital project

Saturday, 28 September 2024

An estimated crowd of up to 35,000 people has turned out to protest the Government’s proposed downgrade for Dunedin’s new hospital project.

The Hospital Cuts Hurt campaign, launched by Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich and councillors this week, aimed to fight any clinical cuts.

Radich said up to 35,000 people from across the South had come together on Saturday to express their outrage at the proposed cuts - the “biggest protest in Dunedin in decades”.

“This is the biggest protest in Dunedin in decades, and together we’ve sent a powerful message to government that we’re not going accept broken promises and a hospital that fails the people of our region.”

Radich said this was no longer a Dunedin or Southern issue but in fact a national issue “shining a spotlight on the government’s health funding and priorities, and they can’t simply ignore us”.

“We’re not going away. In fact, we’re just getting started.”

Radich thanked those who supported the march including individuals and families to doctors, nurses, clinicians and medical students “who could be forced to work in a substandard facility if the government’s plans are not challenged.”

“This southern region tertiary hospital has been a long time coming and every element has been designed in consultation with nurses, doctors and health professionals who know what is needed to give everyone the care they deserve.

About 35,000 people took to the Dunedin streets to protest the proposed cuts to the new hospital.

“The fact the government now wants to downscale such a critical facility for the South is an outrage, and people are right to be angry.”

Radich said the campaign will continue, and phase two would shift the focus to direct lobbying of key Ministers in Wellington.

“We’re now asking people to send thousands of postcards directly to Ministers Bishop and Reti, telling them exactly what the cuts would mean for them and their whānau, and why the government should keep its promise.”

A very large crowd turedn out on Saturday afternoon to protest the Government's plans to make cuts to Dunedin's Hospital project.

The march began on Saturday at noon outside the Dental School and went to the Octagon for speeches.

Linda Smillie, a nurse, said in her speech this would “result in patient deaths”.

“There's no if buts or maybes. It will just be a simple matter of time when that happens. I want it today to be very clear on whose shoulders the responsibility for that sits.

'The threat to the health of those of us here and our future loved ones is very real.”

Smillie singled out the Government MPs in the South, naming Penny Simmonds, Joseph Mooney, Todd Stephenson and Mark Patterson individually, and said they should be ashamed.

On Thursday, the Government said poor planning, coupled with rising costs, meant there were now two options available: revise the current project specification and scope, or carry out a staged development of the old hospital site.

Spiralling costs have meant the original 2017 cost estimation of $1.2-$1.4b could approach $3b, the ministers said, prompting a radical rethink of the project.

Local Labour MPs Ingrid Leary, Rachel Brooking and Tracey McLellan were among the 35,000 protesting in Dunedin over the proposed hospital cuts.

“The people of Dunedin are going to get a hospital,” Bishop told Stuff.

However, the Government could not justify spending up to $3b on the project, which would come at the cost of other centres, he said.

The ministers warned that much-needed upgrades to other regional hospitals could be at risk if budget blowouts at the new Dunedin Hospital weren’t addressed.

Radich said, ahead of the protest, that the hospital will be a critically important regional facility for the entire lower South Island.

“We need everyone’s support to send a powerful message to the politicians in Wellington.

“Our message is simple: No clinical cuts. Keep your hospital promise.”

Southland MP, National’s Joseph Mooney, said he was “incredibly frustrated” by the “challenges in delivering much-needed, modern, fit-for-purpose hospital facilities for the region”.

“The Government has already committed an additional $290m to the build this year. Insufficient money had been set aside for other associated costs such as a pathology lab, refurbishment of the existing facilities and car parking which are collectively estimated at an additional $400 million. No business cases have been prepared for any of these additional elements of the project.

“I will continue to strongly advocate to our ministers for the delivery of appropriate health services for the future of our growing region. We’re working hard to find a solution, and we will keep you informed once ministers have a preferred option.”