Health New Zealand has officially opened the new Dunedin Hospital outpatient building following a formal blessing ceremony today.
Designed as a digitally enabled healthcare facility, the outpatient building includes comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage, self-service patient check-in kiosks, digital wayfinding, electronic referrals and bookings, electronic prescribing patient queue management systems, and improved shared electronic records.
Health NZ Chief Executive Dale Bramley said the investment in digital infrastructure will improve both the patient experience and staff efficiency.
“Patients will benefit from easier navigation, improved communication, and reduced paperwork, while clinicians will have faster access to the information they need to deliver care.
“These digital foundations will not only support healthcare in the Southern district but are expected to provide value for future hospital developments across New Zealand.”
The facility has also been designed with sustainability in mind. It is fully electric, targeting a five-star Green Star rating and incorporates energy-efficient systems to reduce its environmental impact while providing a comfortable environment for patients and staff.
The five-storey, 15,000 square metre facility, built within its $439.9 million budget, will begin providing clinical care to the public from October.
TRANSFORMATIONAL
Dr Bramley said the opening is the first visible step in transforming healthcare services for generations of patients in Otago and Southland.
“The New Dunedin Hospital is one of the largest health infrastructure projects in New Zealand’s history.
“This is a once-in-a-generation investment in healthcare, education, and research that will benefit patients, whānau, staff, and communities throughout Otago and Southland for decades to come.”
A blessing (whakawātea) of the facility was conducted pre-dawn today by mana whenua representatives who have also provided a Māori name for the building – Whare Mātūtū.
The name reflects a place of care, recovery, and ongoing wellbeing, supporting people throughout their health journeys. The facility will be known as Outpatients | Whare Mātūtū.
EXTENSIVE PLANNING
Health NZ Southern Group Director of Operations Craig Ashton said extensive planning has been undertaken to ensure a smooth transition into the new facility ahead of its opening later this year.
“Our teams have been working for several years to prepare for this moment. Construction may now be complete, but a significant amount of work is underway to commission the building, install equipment, train staff, and ensure every service is ready to safely welcome patients in October.
“The exact date of opening and other key information for the community will be widely shared ahead of the first patients visiting this wonderful new facility.”
The building will house a wide range of outpatient clinics and services including children’s and women’s outpatient services, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, respiratory medicine, physiotherapy, hand therapy, radiology and imaging services, day surgery and procedure rooms.
“This building will enable us to deliver care in a modern, purpose-built facility, providing greater capacity, improved patient flow, and enhanced clinical facilities that support contemporary models of care,” Mr Ashton said.
UNLOCKING CAPABILITIES
Once fully operational, the additional capacity provided by the building is expected to help unlock access to approximately:
- 1,700 additional day surgical procedures each year
- 13,300 additional medical imaging appointments each year
- 2,700 additional medical day stay appointments each year
Mr Ashton said these improvements will help Health New Zealand better respond to growing demand for healthcare services in Otago and Southland.
“Over time, the additional capacity will support improved access to specialist appointments, diagnostic imaging, elective procedures, and cancer care, benefiting patients across the Southern district.”
The broader New Dunedin Hospital project includes the construction of a new 11-storey, 72,000 square metre inpatient building, which remains on track to open to patients in 2031.
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