New Dunedin Hospital

Latest updates

October 2024: Options for the New Dunedin Hospital are being worked through and this page will be updated as soon as decisions are finalised.

Otago and Southland news and updates

About Project Whakatuputupu

Project Whakatuputupu, the New Dunedin Hospital, is led by Te Whatu Ora and includes key stakeholders involved in the planning, design and construction. Aukaha has provided the project with a cultural narrative, Whakatuputupu, that helps inform and guide the design aesthetic, environmental performance and user functionality of our new hospital in Ōtepoti.

Watch: Kia ora koutou from Mana Whenua

Revolutionising healthcare

The state of the art, fit for purpose facility is currently the largest ever health infrastructure investment in New Zealand. While the New Dunedin Hospital will be similar in size to the current hospital, its design and use of latest technology will mean greater efficiency, including patient flow around the hospital, and better access to diagnostics and treatment spaces, reducing unnecessary delays.

Dunedin’s economy will receive a massive boost as a result of this new hospital project, contributing an estimated $429 million GDP. The build will employ thousands of construction workers over the lifetime of the project.

Design for the new hospital will incorporate technology and processes to improve efficiency, enhance patient and staff experience, increase pandemic readiness and benefit generations of people across the Southern region.

Smarter and more efficient

The New Dunedin Hospital will be a modern, efficient and patient-centred teaching hospital. With a five Green Star sustainability rating, the building's design and use of latest technology will mean greater efficiency, including patient flow around the hospital and better access to diagnostics and treatment spaces, reducing unnecessary delays.

The new hospital will include 410 beds (compared to 367 beds in the current hospital) and 26 theatre and intervention spaces (compared to 17).

Contemporary design principles have been used so that the theatres can be used in a more efficient way. There are four times as many procedure rooms in the new building design for minor surgery as well as larger day surgery theatres for more complex day surgery cases. The design also incorporates a new surgical short stay unit with 20 beds.

Outpatient Building

The first stage focuses on the Outpatient Building, which includes:

Outpatient services
Clinic rooms
Day Procedures Unit
Planned radiology

The building will include:

10,000m2 clinical space
Multi-disciplinary outpatient clinics
Radiology including MRI and CT Services
Integrated digital systems
5-Star Greenstar Rating
Public areas with food and retail
Patient drop-Off
Inclusive and accessible for all

Opens 2026

Inpatient building

In the second stage, the construction of the Inpatient Building includes:

Expanded Emergency Department
Operating Theatre Suite and short stay surgical unit
Dedicated Primary Birthing Unit
ICU and High Dependency beds
Inpatient wards

Opens 2029

Artists impression of the New Dunedin Hospital

Artist Impression of New Dunedin Hospital — Artist Impressions of New Dunedin Hospital

**Artist Impressions of New Dunedin Hospital**

Frequently asked questions

Why is a PET scanner not being funded?

Currently there are no PET CT scanners in public hospitals within New Zealand. All publicly funded PET scanning is provided in privately run facilities.

‍A private provider – Pacific Radiology - has announced they will have a PET scanner operational in Dunedin by early 2025.

‍Building a shelled space for a PET CT scanner means the New Dunedin Hospital will have the space needed for this equipment as demand for these services are needed.

‍A national plan for PET CT provision will identify whether the provision for one in the New Dunedin Hospital would provide more equitable health outcomes for our community. To future proof that eventuality, the space designated for a PET scanner will require a ‘warm’ shell, the estimated cost of which is $2.5 million.

What car parking facilities will be provided?

There will be a mix of onsite public car parking, drop-off parks, parks for ambulances and other hospital vehicles, and parks for clinical and other staff.

‍We are currently investigating how a car parking building might be included in the surrounding area. This is in the beginning stages, and we will report back later on this.

What consultation has taken place with Kāi Tahu?

There has been significant consultation on the new design, including with local and national clinicians and Aukaha, on behalf of Ngāi Tahu. As part of the co-design process with Aukaha and mana-whenua, the cultural narrative has been integrated into the buildings and landscape design.

What digital infrastructure will be put in place for the new hospital?

When the Outpatient Building opens, modern digital infrastructure will be in place.

‍This includes digital wayfinding services, check in kiosks and information displays, and WiFi connectivity. Building management functions will also be in place meaning for the medical devices that will be used in the new facility.

What services are not in scope for the New Dunedin Hospital build?

A number of services that are accommodated outside of the current Dunedin Hospital on the residual campus and will not be incorporated into the new hospital. For example, BreastCare, NZ Artificial Limb Service, the Gibson Day Unit and childcare services.

How does the design of the new hospital compare with the Detailed Business Case (DBC)?

The main changes are that the initial DBC in 2021 included 28 theatres and the pavilion. Following a design reset due to cost escalations, there will now be 26 theatres and collaborative workspaces previously in the pavilion for staff have been incorporated into the Outpatient and Inpatient Buildings – this is space where staff can go to work when they are not with patients.

What Pathology/lab services will be in the new hospital?

Current design has Pathology services close to acute – or critical – areas and a larger off-site laboratory.

‍A review of pathology services has been undertaken and the proposed way forward is recommended in the Te Whatu Ora Board Paper. The Project options report for pathology department is also published on the same page.

View the Board Paper.

Will there be enough capacity for Mental Health Services for Older People in the new hospital?

The current design of NDH has 12 acute mental health beds on opening, with space for 12 to be delivered in the future.

What happens at the existing hospital when the new Outpatient building is ready?

Outpatient services such as day medical, specialist clinics and planned radiology will transfer over to the new building (in a phased move).

‍Wards and most surgical theatres will stay put in the current Dunedin Hospital until the Inpatient Building is ready to move into (in 2029).

Publications

We regularly publish information in relation to the New Dunedin Hospital Project.

OIA responses

OIA responses relating to the construction of the New Dunedin Hospital.

OIA responses related to the New Dunedin Hospital

Our key stakeholders

Health New Zealand is responsible for delivering the new hospital. Project Whakatuputupu, the New Dunedin Hospital, is overseen by a Project Steering Group and a Clinical Transformation Group. Otago’s University, Polytechnic, Workforce Central Dunedin and a local Advisory Group are also involved.

Workforce Central Dunedin is a Jobs and Skills Hub that helps provide the necessary construction skills and labour to build the New Dunedin Hospital.

Doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health staff, technicians, orderlies and clinical administrators are all involved in group sessions led by health planners to design the new hospital.

These discussions help refine how the New Dunedin Hospital can realise the most benefit for staff and patients. Models of care change rapidly within health and bringing together the design team and clinical staff helps shine the light on potential developments or shifts in patient care as the design process continues.

Contact us

For any enquiries or feedback relating to the New Dunedin Hospital Project you can contact us by email: ndh@southerndhb.govt.nz

If you have a procurement query, contact: NDHProcurement@health.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact us at hnzmedia@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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