PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA Dunedin widower making sure his wife’s life "was not a waste" has started a petition to Parliament to open Dunedin Hospital’s catheterisation laboratory around the clock. The family want Dunedin Hospital to have a fulltime operational cath lab, instead of one closed at the weekend to all but acute cases. On May 13, 2022 — a Friday — Mrs Tipene-Weepers went to Dunedin Hospital at 11pm, where she was diagnosed with symptoms of a heart attack. In May 2023, the couple flew to Adelaide for cardiac surgery, but while there were told Mrs Tipene-Weepers needed a full heart transplant. "All patients are clinically assessed and have access to the cath lab for any acute or clinically urgent situations," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 29, 2025 18:12 UTC