Protesters target Health Minister Simeon Brown over Dunedin hospital plan
The health minister was confronted on Friday by noisy protesters after his announcement about the new Dunedin Hospital, with one protester hitting his car with their placard.
Simeon Brown said the new $1.8 billion hospital will have 351 beds – 59 fewer than originally proposed, but with capacity to expand to 404 beds over time.
Brown said the plan would deliver certainty to the people of Dunedin, within the budget.
About 100 protesters gathered at the site of the announcement, chanting throughout.
As Brown left, protesters blocked his exit, yelling at his car, accusing him of lying, and chanting “build it once, build it right”, as well as “public health, not private wealth”.
Protesters were moved back by police.
He should face protests!
This wasn’t ‘certainty’. A word he used 25 times during the press conference.
It was about ‘surrender’, he’s amputating public health, he’s not saving it…
The rebuild was paused last year after a report estimated costs could climb to $3 billion; the government’s budget is about $1.9b.
…Simeon Brown is the Minister of Health because he’s prepared to cut things Dr Shane Reti wasn’t.
Note, they have $14billion for tax cuts we can’t afford and $3billion for Landlords and hundreds of millions for Big Tobacco, but not enough for Dunedin Hospital despite promising people they would fully fund it.
This isn’t a celebration, it’s a bloody funeral for public health…
Specialist disappointed older people being let down over Dunedin Hospital revamp
The new hospital will open with 351 inpatient beds – 59 fewer than originally proposed, but with capacity to expand to 404 beds over time.
There will also be a staged delivery of more operating theatres and imaging services like Xrays and MRI although no timeline was given.
…less beds, operating theatres and imaging services so the majority gets $12 extra a week?
How does a Big Mac combo per week in tax cuts make up for a smaller Dunedin Hospital?
How’s that hard right Government passing laws for their donor mates feeling now sleepy hobbits?
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Small man ,smaller hospital ,smaller foot paths ,smaller cycle ways .No new roads delivered and unlikely too be ,no more new hospitals ,no health care for over 65s .
The only thing big is his ego and the new Jag he gets driven around in and the police escort he needs because he is a cunt .
The woeful blind ignorance of quite a high percentage of N.Z.’s population is….well….woeful.
Probably one of the least sophisticated 1st world countries on the planet…ripe for exploitation…yeah nah…yes!!
The majority did not get $12 in tax cuts.
They gave the right hand a $12 income tax reduction and attacked the left hand with a $43 car rego tax increase.
That’s $31 tax revenue per car owner they handout to landlords.
Right on point.
The Christchurch hospital rebuild and renovation and refurbishment with same playbook by national over Dunedin, Whangarei, nelson and the Hawkes bay.
Downgrade what labour promised to build and had progressed to be built.
The Hawkes bay announcement on the same day was only for new gear not the
full hospital rebuild they need.
Our total hospital rebuild plans are being decimated by this coalition of clowns.
This pipsqueak of a minister can go get stuffed.
Build the damn hospitals the experts want not what you think they want.
Right on point.
The Christchurch hospital rebuild and renovation and refurbishment with same playbook by national over Dunedin, Whangarei, nelson and the Hawkes bay.
Downgrade what labour promised to build and had progressed to be built.
The Hawkes bay announcement on the same day was only for new gear not the
full hospital rebuild they need.
Our total hospital rebuild plans are being decimated by this coalition of clowns.
This pipsqueak of a minister can go get stuffed.
Build the damn hospitals the experts want not what you think they want.
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