The much anticipated rebuild announcement at Dunedin Hospital on Saturday did not go entirely to plan.
Prime Minister Bill English, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Dunedin list MP Michael Woodhouse trooped up to the eighth floor to visit patients.
Busy ward staff had to wend their way through politicians, reporters, political staff, and Southern District Health Board staff and commissioners. The stress in the ward was palpable.
A mother watching proceedings with two young children was contemptuous of journalists "lapping it up" while Mr English greeted patients. She told the children it was all an election ploy from National.
The group headed back to the hospital foyer for the rebuild announcement, where a large group of councillors and university staff waited in anticipation.
During pleasantries afterwards, a group of equal pay protesters noisily strode into the hospital foyer, and Mr English was whisked away by staff.
The report on One News on Saturday night was dominated by Mr English rushing out of the hospital, rather than the big rebuild announcement.
More neurosurgeons
A new neurosurgeon started at Dunedin Hospital this month on a year-long contract, and an overseas neurosurgeon has been hired to start in January.
Southern District Health Board surgical medical director Stephen Packer said the board was no longer relying on other DHBs to run the service.
In May, the Otago Daily Times reported the hospital only had one neurosurgeon, Ahmad Taha, who was being supported by visiting Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury neurosurgeons.
The neurosurgeon who starts in January is a joint academic appointment, and was recruited by the University of Otago.
