Staff, patients and members of the Roman Catholic community celebrated the 80th anniversary of Mercy Hospital, and the opening of a new $7.5million facility on Saturday.
Mercy Hospital chief executive Richard Whitney said the new Manaaki by Mercy day-stay facility would provide 1400 endoscopy and opthalmology procedures in the next year.
The facility included two theatres, recovery areas, patient consult rooms and cancer treatment facilities, Mr Whitney said.
The building took 10 months to complete, and it was "fitting'' to open it during the private hospital's 80th anniversary, he said.
"Manaaki means to support, offer hospitality to, take care of and protect.
The facility would also offer contingency capacity beds in support of Mercy Hospital and Dunedin Hospital in the event of a natural disaster, he said.
Sister Lucia Hartstonge, who was heavily involved with the development of Mercy Hospital, said the new facility was "extremely beautiful''.
"It is lovely, it is homely and that sense of hospitality is very important.''
