Murray Radka, 77, of Alexandra, has stayed at Oamaru House numerous times while receiving treatment at Dunedin Hospital for prostate cancer, a brain aneurysm, lung issues and, most recently, hernia surgery.
He described the nine-room facility as a ‘‘godsend’’ and said its loss would be devastating for people living outside the city.
‘‘We were advised by medical people that that would be the best place for us and it has certainly proven so.
‘‘I’ve had a number of serious health issues and we live in Central Otago,’’ Mr Radka said.
‘‘It’s impossible, for most appointments, to go there and back in a day - and often we’re not well enough anyway.’’
The volunteer-run facility, located across from Dunedin Hospital in Hanover St, has provided affordable accommodation for rural patients and their families for nearly three decades.
However, its future is now in jeopardy after the Oamaru House Charitable Trust was notified its lease will be terminated on October 31 due to the scheduled demolition of the building.
‘‘It’s quite a shock to us this morning to get news that it’s closing down - plus a level of anger at the way rural people are treated. Apart from this, there are so little provisions for people who don’t live in the city.’’
Mr Radka stayed at Oamaru House for four weeks during his daily radiation treatment for prostate cancer. He said the facility not only provided a convenient place to stay but also emotional support from staff and fellow patients.
‘‘I recently had surgery for a hernia,’’ he said.
‘‘After the surgery - which was day surgery - my daughter-in-law could just wheel me across the road in a wheelchair. That made a huge difference compared to trying to get into a vehicle and drive to accommodation outside of the city.
‘‘It’s not just a place to sleep.
‘‘You’ve got Kathryn [Smith, the accommodation manager] who gets to know us. You meet other patients going through even worse. It becomes a support network, which is something you just don’t get in a hotel or motel.’’
Ms Smith said the news had come as a major blow to the community that depended on the facility.
She described Oamaru House as ‘‘a community within a community’’.
‘‘Most people who stay here are regulars and they’ve stayed here for years - this is what they do and where they go. So, you know, they feel like they’ve been evicted. This is where they go when they’re in Dunedin for treatment,’’ Ms Smith said.
‘‘It’s like a community here. If somebody needs an ear or some help, there’s always somebody to talk to.
‘‘My hope is that a suitable building, within the vicinity of Dunedin Hospital, can be secured and Oamaru House can continue into the future,’’ Ms Smith said.
Oamaru House was established in 1997 following a two-year fundraising campaign led by Altrusa Oamaru. Although initially intended to support patients after fears Oamaru Hospital might close, the facility quickly evolved into a regional asset, supporting patients from throughout Otago and Southland.
Ms Smith said the trust did not have the funds to buy or fit out a new property near Dunedin Hospital.
Without urgent support, the closure might be permanent.
