New Dunedin Hospital: Plans for extra beds, operating theatres remain on the cards, govt says

National's campaign promises of restoring previously cut beds, operating theatres and equipment for the new Dunedin Hospital remain on the cards, the health minister says.

The planned new hospital has been plagued by delays and budget blowouts for years, with the previous government announcing controversial cuts to beds, MRI units and the number of operating theatres.

In July 2023, the National Party promised an extra $30 million to reverse those cuts and put an extra 23 inpatient beds, two operating theatres and a PET scanner in the new build.

But concern over that commitment spiked after Health Minister Dr Shane Reti told a health select committee that it could be six to 10 years before it would be known if the hospital would be built as planned.

Former Local Advisory Group chairperson Pete Hodgson previously told the Otago Daily Times the government could walk away from its promise.

"The idea you can address these changes six years from now is ludicrous."

On Thursday, Reti visited the build site for the first time since the 2023 election.

He said the government was still committed to its campaign promises.

"We have never taken that off the table," he said.

"It continues to be what we are anticipating."

He said delays had caused more cost pressures. However, he said the current budget was commercially sensitive due to ongoing negotiations so he could not reveal the specifics.

"As there has been with this project, this project has been significantly challenged," he said.

He was reassured the build was on track after touring the inpatient and outpatient building sites, with the first stage of the outpatients building set to be completed in 2026, he said.

The government was committed to its plans but it was also seeking value for money and always looking for efficiencies, Reti said.

"The advantage of me being on site here today is being able to actually see the project in evolution."