Dunstan Hospital Welcomes Government Funding Boost to Expand Local Services

Central Otago - Central Otago Health Services (COHSL) Chairman Richard Thomson and Chief Executive Hayley Anderson were two of the small number of invitees to the Minister of Health’s standup in Queenstown yesterday.

There are positive takeaways for Dunstan Hospital in the $128m operational funding announcement over the next four years and it is clear the Minister sees leveraging off the two existing hospitals as a preferred position.

Health Minister Simeon Brown in Queenstown today with MPs Joseph Mooney, Miles Anderson and Health NZ group manager community integration Aroha Metcalf (left). Image: supplied

‍ “There will be more services offered closer to home” says Hayley. “The team at Dunstan have been working at this for the past two years and have already increased a range of services and clinics in Clyde and more recently Wānaka. These have included minor skin procedures, increased scoping services and radiological procedures and of course the Wānaka overnight acute service run from Aspiring Care.”

Ambulatory care refers to walk in walk out services, so Dunstan Hospital expects to deliver more of these, e.g. infusion services and specialist clinics reducing the need for people to travel long distances. There will be a greater access to diagnostic services and use of technologies.

A four to six-month planning programme to establish the detail of services, where they will be located and funding available will commence soon and Dunstan team members are ready to engage. “We highlighted to the Minister that we see ourselves as part of the solution to healthcare access in the region”, says Hayley.

Richard said, “Dunstan Hospital with its strong and positive reputation, capability and agility is well placed to respond quickly to the opportunities for the people of the Upper Clutha and Central Otago”.

For more information on the Clinical Services Plan, visit the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website: Link here

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