BREAKING NEWS
Luxon Rules Out More Funding for Dunedin Hospital, Cites Need for Fair Distribution Among Hospitals
[Transcript of the media conference with Christopher Luxon, the Minister of Health]
New Zealand’s Minister of Health, Christopher Luxon, has faced criticism from opposition parties and local residents regarding the underfunding of Dunedin Hospital. During a press conference today, Luxon clarified the government’s stance on allocating additional funds for the hospital, stating that it would take money away from other hospitals.
Here’s the full transcript:
[Journalist 1]: Minister, can you confirm whether the government plans to invest more in the Dunedin Hospital?
[Luxon]: Thank you for the question. While we understand the concerns regarding the funding for Dunedin Hospital, I must stress that our top priority is ensuring a fair distribution of resources among all hospitals nationwide.
[Journalist 2]: But, Minister, the hospital is struggling to cope with the workload, and doctors are working under immense pressure. Is it not crucial to address this issue immediately?
[Luxon]: I agree that the workload is high, and we’re committed to supporting the healthcare workforce. However, we cannot prioritize one hospital over others. Our current budget allows for a targeted approach, and we need to focus on those hospitals that are most in need.
[Journalist 3]: What about the promises made during the election campaign regarding increased funding for healthcare facilities?
[Luxon]: We are keeping our commitment to increase healthcare funding. However, the allocation process is complex, and we must consider the needs of all hospitals across the country. It’s not just about one region or facility; it’s about providing a comprehensive and equitable healthcare system.
This decision comes as a shock to locals, who had been campaigning for increased funding to modernize the aging hospital facilities and improve healthcare services.
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This breaking news report provides readers with the latest information on the government’s stance regarding the funding for Dunedin Hospital. As the issue continues to be a subject of debate, we will keep our audience updated on any further developments.
Y'all seemed to appreciate my last transcript re: Dunedin Hospital so I'm here again today watching as Luxon fronts the media in Auckland and doing some more!
On Dunedin Hospital [excerpt from video linked above]:
Journalist: Prime minister, on the protest over the Dunedin Hospital, were you surprised to see that happen?
Luxon: No, look, I understand the frustration, but equally this is a project that started off at $1.2b, went to $1.6b, we've put almost $300m more into it at $1.9b, and we cant have a project like that blowing out and heading towards a $3b cost, because essentially that is then choices we have to make about other regional hospitals we want to support. So rest assured, we're committed to building a new hospital, but it needs to be within the budget frame.
Journalist: [unintelligible] the Mayor of Dunedin says your government's [unintelligible] is a smokescreen. [???] says the project cost of $3b is deceitful. Are you being transparent?
Luxon: Yes we are, and as you know, we've got a review underway looking at two options, whether on the new site or the old site, we'll take advice on that and move through very quickly. We are commited to buildling a new hospital there, but you cannot have a situation, as we've inherited around the ferries, as we've inherited around school buildings, where we have cost blowouts. And we have to make sure that we can get a good hospital in place for the people of Dunedin and the south, but within budget, because the choice is we have limited amounts of money, and the reality is those are then monies we cannot invest in other regional hospitals, which we also have commitments in and investments around as well.
Journalist: What are your real to-build costs of the project, where there aren't any commercial sensitivies?
Luxon: Well again our focus is on making sure we get it back within the envelope of the $1.9b, you know even at $1.9b it would be amongst one of the most expensive hospitals in the southern hemisphere, so we are committed to building a great hospital but we need to do it within budget.
View info-news.info by MedicMoth
What about cancelling the 3 billion in tax breaks to landlords. Fixed!
It’s not the Dunedin hospital, it’s the southern regional hospital, and therefore it’s size and facilities have to reflect that.
Otherwise patients will end up being transferred to Christchurch or anywhere else in NZ.
And with luxon not answering the last question you know he is lying.
The information to answer the last question would have to be known to government to make the decision of cutting back on the southern regional hospital.
This is standard for Luxon and his entire government.
This is also the ruse they used for Kiwirail ferries ($1bn poof because of their lies) and the shell game I mentioned they are playing today.
**TLDR:** He’s a liar – and so is his entire government – including the ones that appear sane like Erica Stanford or Chris Bishop who is just waiting for Luxon to be rolled.
So if this is about improving care, how about he tells us how much these savings will free up for ensuring rural GP cover? Or to actually staff Tairāwhiti Hospital? Or to increase healthcare access on the West Coast?
Labour “spent money on Health” by giving us jobs for bureaucrats in Wellington (but SFA for GPs and hospitals). NACT are simply not going to spend. At all. And give tax breaks to landlords instead.
If anyone is going to take money away from other hospitals, it will be national, not dunedin.
Something else that was picked up on – his claim around “most expensive hospital in the southern hemisphere” is fairly hacky because we don’t actually have many similar countries to compare there. Like, there’s a third of Africa and some islands, but not much else. [This list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemisphere) makes that quite stark. Not really fair comparison.
Besides, I think it only works out that way because of cost inflation? A quick google search says Australia’s most expensive hospital was US $2.44b in 2011… but a quick calculation shows $2.44b USD is $3.41b USD today, which is $5.35b at today’s exchange rate… so. Ya know.
Besides, it’s hardly fair given the cost of materials and construction in general has far outstripped inflation, with housing build prices for example increasing by 41% by the government’s [own numbers](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-tackling-high-construction-costs). Plus Australia is literally currently building a new hospital for [more than $3b.](https://www.9news.com.au/national/construction-begins-on-adelaides-new-32-billion-hospital/cf69a0ac-de23-41e8-9e40-b825ac402f78). Aaaand another for estimated total [~$2b](https://www.vhba.vic.gov.au/health/hospitals/new-footscray-hospital)
How can they sit there TELLING us that construction is out of control and they’ll be the ones to fix it – and then spin around and talk about this hospital like it’s some kind of huge, greedy, luxury spend? Huge cognitive dissonance. I guess the narrative around the same exact figures can just change to whatever suits the agenda :/
Someone needs to Inform Luxon that he has the power to increase the amount of money allocated to the Health System
Nek Minnut we’ll be spending $1Bn/year on helicopter flights to Christchurch hospital