Chris FlemingThe Southern District Health Board is committed to finding a solution to issues in Dunedin Hospital's emergency department and is working through options, chief executive Chris Fleming said. Those changes, aimed at easing lengthy waiting times for patients, could result in some services relocating within the building. While any redevelopment work would not happen immediately, work was needed so the emergency department (ED) could function until the opening of the new Dunedin Hospital, Mr Fleming said. More would be done to ensure the SDHB hit the Ministry of Health target of 95% of patients being admitted, discharged or transferred from an emergency department within six hours, Mr Fleming said. That would mean the SDHB spending money tagged for deficit reduction, but which was of greater use being spent on the long-term health of the community, Mr Fleming said.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 08, 2018 15:45 UTC