Save Our Southern Hospital campaign ambulance — dubbed Cliff — has been travelling across the South over the past week and today Cliff and drivers Mike Waddell and Pam Munro depart for Parliament.
On the way, they will stop in towns in the lower South Island to speak to people about the hospital cuts.
Before the election, the National government pledged to build the hospital to its original specifications but announced in September it would be built on a reduced budget — either as a scaled-down version or by retrofitting the existing hospital.
Mrs Munro is a registered nurse who previously worked at Dunedin Hospital and her husband had worked on Otago Polytechnic’s executive leadership team.
He said the hospital, delivered as promised, was vital for the Southern region which included some of New Zealand’s fastest growing areas.
"Where is the accountability?" he asked.
"All we’re actually asking for is that the promises actually be delivered."
He understood resources were scarce but urged the government to use them wisely.
"Given that there is such a shortage of medical expertise, it’s vital that we provide the best facilities.
"There is actually a health crisis in New Zealand — let’s actually address that."
Mrs Munro hoped the trip to Wellington would encourage decision makers to work make a decision with long-term benefit.
In Wellington they will join a southern delegation on Wednesday, including Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher and Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark, to present the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation’s petition opposing clinical cuts.
Labour MP for Dunedin Rachel Brooking will accept the petition — which now has over 26,000 signatures.
"My hope would be that maybe they’ll actually read the right documents and listen to the experts, not just take it purely from a ‘these books don’t balance’ point of view," Mrs Munro said.
"If you want to attract top clinicians, [a teaching hospital is] where they’re at, with the support of the university and the laboratories and all the research that goes on."
It was "underhand" for the government to suggest funding needs at hospitals in Whangārei and Nelson justified scaling back Dunedin’s, she said.
