Report suggests further delay for hospital rebuild

Jonathan Coleman

And Labour Dunedin North MP David Clark has blasted the Government for the potential delay, calling it an ''absolute outrage''. The paper to a board committee yesterday said detailed planning work for the $200 million clinical services building would be completed by December 2016.

That work would then be used to ''inform'' the development of the business case, the key step in obtaining Government approval for a major project. Earlier this year, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman told the Otago Daily Times he hoped the Cabinet would consider a business case for the project as early as December, but most likely next year.

That was later than what Dr Coleman's predecessor, Tony Ryall, said last year when he stated the business case would be considered in 2015.

Yesterday, Dr Coleman said in an email he hoped the ''first stage of the plan'' would go before the Cabinet later this year. A spokeswoman declined a request for clarification.

''I expect the first stage of the plan could go to Cabinet as early as late 2015, but there are a number of issues to work through first,'' Dr Coleman said .

Dr Coleman's spokesman said the minister had nothing to add when the ODT asked when he expected the full business case.

Dr Clark claimed yesterday the National-led Government misled the southern region about the likely time frame in the lead-up to last year's general election.

''There's no way ministers who are competent in their portfolios could have not known that decision-making would be over such an extended time frame.

''Clearly, it suited the last administration to have the public believe that the matter was being attended to leading into the election.

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Report suggests further delay for hospital rebuild