But forget penthouse apartment or high-end hotel, and instead say hello to the future of Dunedin Hospital.
Hospital staff were on Saturday proudly showing off the ageing hospital’s newest feature — the recently opened $3.2million gastroenterology department, located on the eighth floor of the hospital.
And as a steady stream of curious onlookers took advantage of the public open day, charge nurse Karen Kempin told the Otago Daily Times they were catching a glimpse of the future.
Instead of the hospital’s old, ailing and unsightly gastroenterology ward, patients in need of a colonoscopy or gastroscopy — and then a bit of a lie-down — could now do so in the comfort of modern, attractive surroundings, she said.
"This is what a hospital should look like. Lots of natural light and space, instead of everything crammed in together," Mrs Kempin said.
The new ward so far boasted two up-and-running procedure rooms, and space for a third, as well as a 10-bed recovery ward.
It also had room for teaching spaces, administration and staff facilities, as well as a state-of-the-art endoscope reprocessor — the first of its kind in New Zealand — for cleaning equipment.
The new ward opened last month and was already seeing up to 26 patients a day, although with capacity for 35 or more, she said.
Among them was June Stephens (89), of Dunedin, who was enjoying a biscuit and a look around when the ODT called in.
She said she was coming back tomorrow as a patient, but wanted to get a sneak peak first.
She was impressed by the facilities and the views, but hedged her bets slightly about the rest.
"Ask me afterwards if I have changed my mind," she said laughing.
