Just 18 months after the first sod-turning, Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital officially opened in Queenstown at a ceremony this evening. At the opening, held onsite at Kawarau Park, Lake Hayes Estate, a special pounamu was blessed by Ngai Tahu and after speeches, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult unveiled a commemorative plaque. The hospital was a 50/50 joint venture between the Central Lakes Trust and Southern Cross Healthcare to offer better access to elective surgeries in Queenstown alongside services Lakes District Hospital already offers — such as A&E. Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital’s first operating theatre set to open in January. It was Arrowtown-based advisor to the joint venture Andrew Blair who brought Central Lakes Trust and Southern Cross Healthcare together, seeing local need for another hospital.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 10, 2021 06:02 UTC