Dunedin Hospitals 6th level of inpatient building could be scrapped

A South Otago mum said the region shouldn't be forced to chose whose loved ones miss out on heath care to cut the budget for the Dunedin Hospital rebuild; it should go ahead as promised and be fit for the region and future generations. Checkpoint understands the sixth level of the inpatient building could be scrapped altogether, including mental health beds for the elderly under one proposal. Specialists had until Wednesday to make their their feelings known on that. A top clinician said the programme is ageist and politicians wouldn't dare to do it paediatric services. The government's insisting the project be completed within the current 1.9 billion dollar budget, despite costs estimates of 3 billion and a National party election promise to deliver Dunedin a hospital that would be, fit for purpose for generations. Balclutha woman Natasha Munro's 3 year old daughter Sofia has major feeding and digestive difficulties meaning she's a regular patient at the hospital and is also forced to travel to Christchurch for care. She told Lisa Owen she believes any downsizing is a mistake and it is whanau that will pay.