Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar said the power of the people could save the new hospital.
"We’ve had two governments promising to build the hospital to specifications, but it’s all just fallen away.
"When we marched for neurosurgery in 2010, we were able to get the government to change their mind.
"I’m hopeful they will listen to us again."
The new hospital would not only have better facilities, but also a "dignity of care" — the present ageing, overcrowded hospital would not, Ms Millar said.
"This is for patients of all ages and conditions."
Items Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora is reconsidering for the new hospital’s inpatient building include moving ED short-stay beds to acute wards, having only one operating theatre with specialist-grade ventilation instead of two, removing wall-mounted medical gas in some theatres and having only one high-spec "hybrid theatre" on opening, instead of two.
Ms Millar said she was hoping many Grey Power members joined the march on Saturday.
"It doesn’t matter if you have to come on a mobility scooter or if you can walk only part of the way. It’s important to be there in spirit."
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists chief executive Sarah Dalton said every announced or proposed cut to the hospital "chipped away" at the morale of clinicians.
"In the short term, we want a renewed commitment to the hospital.
"We’re tired of these tweaks and changes."
She hoped people would attend the march, but she was appearing at another march on the West Coast in protest of removing direct community-based care in the area.
"The fact there are two important marches on is symptomatic of the crisis situation we now face."
Business South chief executive Mike Collins also urged the business community to rally behind the new Dunedin hospital.
"The continued uncertainty in messaging is damaging our ability as a business community to get behind this development, to invest and participate.
"We need certainty, we need clarity and we need commitment."
A phased build, as suggested as a possible solution by the government, also raised some concerns, Mr Collins said.
"We owe it to all to ‘do the right thing’ and for government to listen to our community’s needs. We have a plan, let’s stick to it and work in partnership to deliver this desperately needed new facility."
Protesters will march at noon on Saturday from the University of Otago faculty of dentistry in Great King St, to the Octagon, led by Mayor Jules Radich and councillors.
