Radich confirmed that he had a "free and frank" conversation about the new Dunedin hospital with Health Minister Simeon Brown yesterday.
"I left him in no doubt what the lower half of the South Island were expecting and what their desire is, which is to have the new inpatient building constructed as piled and planned."
In September last year, then-health minister Dr Shane Reti and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announced the government was replacing the new Dunedin hospital project with either a retro-fit of the existing hospital or a scaled-down version at the former Cadbury’s site.
A decision is yet to be made.
"The government is committed to a new Dunedin hospital, and have been very clear about that. Last year, we announced an additional $290million towards the project," Mr Brown said yesterday.
He said his conversation with Mr Radich was an opportunity to hear his perspective and understand the key issues that he and the community have raised.
Mr Radich said Mr Brown "listened carefully and asked many questions".
