Southern hospital: mayors go to the capital to hand over petition

Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich in Dunedin City Council’s new campaign ambulance called Cliff.
Photo: RNZ/Tess Brunton

Dunedin City Council’s Save Our Southern Hospital campaign hits Wellington on Wednesday, where Cliff the Ambulance will present a petition to Parliament.

The New Zealand Nurses Organization’s petition, calling on the government to reverse announced cuts to the city’s new southern hospital, has now been signed by more than 34,000 people.

Officials announced in September that the redevelopment is planned should be reduced or implemented in phases due to a budget crisis.

The Southern Hospital serves 350,000 people and is the largest region of any tertiary hospital in New Zealand. It trains health professionals for all of New Zealand.

On the campaign website, organizers said the construction of Southern Hospital was not expensive or extravagant. It has 410 overnight beds, 53 ED beds and 15 theaters.

Cliff, the old Sint-Jan Ambulancecreated as part of the council’s campaign), will deliver the petition to the steps of Parliament around noon. NZNO delegate Linda Smillie, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark will be on board the ambulance and taking part in the handover.