He told the Otago Daily Times that during a meeting with Health Minister Dr Shane Reti yesterday the minister said the previous clinical cuts to the hospital had been reversed.
"We put him on notice that we expect nothing less," Mr Radich said.
He also left the meeting with the sense that proposed cuts to specifications would not happen.
Some city councillors were surprised last night to hear the campaign had been reinstated, having not heard about it until a media statement was issued about 5pm.
The mayor was in the capital to present a petition on behalf of the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation (NZNO) urging the government and Dr Reti to build the hospital to promised specifications.
Mr Radich and NZNO delegate Linda Smillie presented Dr Reti with the petition — containing 23,000 signatures — collected in opposition to earlier proposed cuts to plans for the new $1.5 billion-plus hospital.
Mr Radich said the decision to resume the campaign had been made in support of the NZNO and other clinical and operational staff at Dunedin Hospital.
It comes after reports that Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) is considering making cuts to the new Dunedin hospital’s inpatient building.
The cuts being looked at by HNZ include the "shelling" of an 11-bed "short stay" pod in the emergency department and instead incorporating these beds in acute wards.
The organisation is also looking at downgrading operating theatres, by having only one 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.
Mr Radich said he left the meeting with Dr Reti with the sense that those cuts would not happen.
"They were simple brainstorming proposals put on the table to be kicked around.
"But many of them are in direct contradiction to the minister’s aims and goals for the health system.
"It’s all very well to say it in a meeting, but my expectation is the minister will reject them."
Mr Radich said Dr Reti’s primary focus was on reducing the increases in contract costs and not in clinical costs.
"The price rise has come from contractors, not clinicians — he’s looking to contractors to come up with better pricing."
He said the petition was "pivotal" in achieving roll-backs to previous cuts.
"So I think we should continue to press on with gathering more signatures ... There will be discussions among the council as to how best to go about [reviving the campaign]."
He could give no other details about possible further action last night.
A spokeswoman for Dr Reti said the Dunedin project "remains under active consideration, as the government works to deliver an important health facility that represents value for money".
Cr Andrew Whiley said he would like to see "a clear plan and timeline showing when the hospital is going to be built to the levels [size, capacity and services] as promised".
Cr Steve Walker said he was glad to see pressure from various councillors had resulted in the "resumption of a campaign of some sort".
Cr Sophie Barker was also pleased to see the mayor take the message to Wellington — however, she was clear she wanted to limit any possible "wiggle room" for the government.
"The message I want is ‘no cuts’," she said.
The councillors indicated they had not known Mr Radich was going to Wellington to meet the minister.
They were surprised he had not discussed it with them before announcing the revival of the campaign.
Ms Smillie said in a statement 23,000 people had previously signed in support of the no-cuts message, which sent a powerful message, and they believed they could double the number if needed.
"My hope is that the government is listening and will not consider any cuts to clinical services.
"This hospital is simply too important to get wrong," Ms Smillie said.
