Expanding Specialist Care for a Growing Community
As People and Specialist Services Director at Dunstan Hospital, Catherine Haig oversees a remarkable range of departments—from Outpatients and Radiology to the Chemotherapy and Infusion Unit. Her role bridges operations, people, and patient experience, helping ensure that thousands across Central Otago and the Upper Clutha can access world-class care without leaving their community.
“What started as one day a week now runs four days, soon to be five. We need more space, more privacy for patients, and better workflow for our nurses. The pressure is real.”
“I look after the people and culture side of the organisation, which used to be called HR,” Catherine explains. “But I also oversee our specialist services, outpatients, radiology, chemotherapy and infusions plus areas like health and safety, emergency management, and digital systems. It’s a big portfolio, but it’s incredibly rewarding because everything connects back to supporting patients.”
Each year, Dunstan delivers an expanding number of specialist services on site. “We now host 29 different specialties,” says Catherine. “Orthopaedics, cardiology, oncology, gynaecology specialists either fly or drive from Dunedin to run clinics here so patients don’t have to travel to the main centres.”
Specialist nurses and allied-health staff also provide vital clinics, from paediatric hearing checks to retinal screenings for diabetes. “We do minor procedures, colonoscopies, gastroscopies, cardiac testing over 6,000 patient appointments last year alone. That’s up from around 5,000 the previous year. It shows how quickly our region’s needs are growing.”
One of the most valued services is Dunstan’s Chemotherapy and Infusion Unit, which allows people to receive treatment closer to their homes and families. “For someone having chemotherapy, being able to stay local makes a huge difference,” Catherine says. “If you’re not feeling great, there’s nowhere better to be than in your own home. It also means family members can continue working and life can carry on with a little more normality.”
Patients form strong bonds with the staff who care for them. “Our team creates such a compassionate environment, patients often bring baking or chocolates to say thank you,” she smiles. “It’s a real reflection of how much this service means to people.”
That community spirit shows up in unexpected ways. “Last year, we had a delivery of expensive chemotherapy that got stuck when the Cromwell Gorge was closed after an accident. The medication was time-sensitive, worth thousands of dollars and critical for a patient’s treatment. So we worked with Police and the courier company to get a police-escorted delivery through. The patient was incredibly grateful. It was one of those moments where everyone pulled together for the sake of care.”
The demand, however, is outgrowing the current space. “Our chemo unit was designed for three chairs,” Catherine says, “but we now have eight, and we’ve had to expand into neighbouring rooms. What started as one day a week now runs four days, soon to be five. We need more space, more privacy for patients, and better workflow for our nurses. The pressure is real.”
That pressure isn’t just from cancer treatments. “We’re also providing infusions for gastroenterology, rheumatology, and neurology. As new immunotherapy drugs are approved, demand just keeps increasing. We’re doing everything we can with the space we have, but it’s urgent that we plan for growth.”
For Catherine, the Dunstan Hospital Foundation is key to that future. “We’re a community-owned trust hospital, and while government funding covers essential services, it doesn’t stretch to everything. The foundation allows us to raise funds for equipment and improvements that directly benefit patients.”
Recent donations have already made a difference. “We’ve been able to purchase three specialised chemotherapy chairs far more comfortable for patients and easier for staff and a platelet mixer that makes transfusions more flexible. These things aren’t cheap, but they have a huge impact.”
Help Dunstan Grow With Its Community
Last year, Dunstan delivered more than 6,000 specialist outpatient visits and 1,900 infusions—saving local patients hundreds of trips to Dunedin or Christchurch. Each of those visits represents time at home, reduced stress, and better recovery.
“This hospital belongs to the community,” Catherine says. “Every donation to the Dunstan Hospital Foundation directly improves patient care and helps us keep pace with the needs of our growing region.”
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