Friday 4 May 2018 1:30pm
An artist's impression of a new Dunedin Hospital. Photo: supplied.
The University of Otago is pleased Cabinet has approved an inner-city Dunedin location with close proximity to the University precinct on which to build the new Dunedin Hospital.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) Professor Peter Crampton, says the building site is close to other health-related infrastructure such as the Dunedin School of Medicine and Otago Dental School.
Professor Peter Crampton
It is also in close proximity to existing non-hospital-based health science-related teaching and research facilities.
“We see this as a unique opportunity to secure an exciting future for the health precinct area of Dunedin and the University,” Professor Crampton says.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne, says the Otago Medical School is integral to the University and it has been keeping a watching brief on developments.
“We are absolutely delighted that the new Dunedin Hospital will be built in close proximity to the University,” Professor Hayne says.
“One of our key attractions is the fact the University is located so closely to the hospital and we are pleased this close relationship will continue.”
The University-owned Te Rangi Hiroa College, which is named after the University's first Māori medical graduate, Te Rangi Hiroa, is located on the site. It caters for up to 120 full-time, first-year students.
University of Otago Chief Operating Officer Stephen Willis says the University will work collaboratively with the project team as they develop the master plan for the site to better understand the implications for the University residential college.
It is important to highlight that there will be no impact on students residing at the college this year, Mr Willis says.
In future, it could be that the hospital is developed around the college or that the building needs to be repurposed or even demolished to make way for the hospital. If the building is no longer able to be used as a residential college, Mr Willis says the University will look to rebuild Te Rangi Hiroa College elsewhere, retaining its identity and name.
University of Otago Director, Māori Development, Tuari Potiki, says Te Rangi Hiroa's iwi, Ngāti Mutunga, have been informed of the announcement and potential implications for the existing college and Ngāti Mutunga is keen to be be involved in future plans for the college.
The University of Otago has about 5000m2 of space in current hospital buildings including the Office of the Dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine, clinical skills and teaching spaces and some of the academic departments of the Dunedin School of Medicine.
Dunedin School of Medicine Dean, Professor Barry Taylor, says the school is inextricably linked for its research and teaching with Dunedin Hospital.
“The new site and building will encourage the whole health system to work together, enabling health professionals to train and work together as teams,” Professor Taylor says.
Numerous University of Otago staff have been involved in detailed planning for the new hospital and now the site is confirmed, Professor Crampton says they are looking forward to being further involved with the master planning that will need to occur.
These indicative plans show two possible configurations of a hospital on the site.
The design phase of the project has yet to start and the final layout of the new Dunedin Hospital may bear no relation to these plans.
Option 1
These indicative plans show two possible configurations of a hospital on the site.
The design phase of the project has yet to start and the final layout of the new Dunedin Hospital may bear no relation to these plans.
Option 2
For further information, please contact:
Professor Peter Crampton
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Division of Health Sciences
Tel 03 479 7413
Email peter.crampton@otago.ac.nz
Liane Topham-Kindley
Senior Communications Adviser
Tel 03 479 9065
Mob 021 279 9065
Email liane.topham-kindley@otago.ac.nz
A list of Otago experts available for media comment is available elsewhere on this website.
Electronic addresses (including email accounts, instant messaging services, or telephone accounts) published on this page are for the sole purpose of contact with the individuals concerned, in their capacity as officers, employees or students of the University of Otago, or their respective organisation. Publication of any such electronic address is not to be taken as consent to receive unsolicited commercial electronic messages by the address holder.