Dunedin Public Hospital
Encyclopedia
Dunedin Hospital is the main public hospital
in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is the largest hospital south of Christchurch
and serves as the major hospital for the Otago
and Southland
regions (with a potential catchment
radius of roughly 300 kilometres, and a population of around 300,000). Patients are transferred or sent to this tertiary level care hospital from smaller secondary care hospitals across Otago and Southland (such as Clyde, Queenstown, Oamaru, Gore and Invercargill)
The hospital is operated by the Southern District Health Board (an entity formed by the amalgamation of the Otago District Health Board and Southland District Health Board.) It is located in the central business district of Dunedin close to Otago University, lying between Great King Street, Hanover Street, Cumberland Street and Frederick Street.
It is a 388 bed tertiary hospital and is affiliated with the University of Otago
. There are approximately 200 specialist consultants. Total employees number about 3,100.
in 1851, and moved to the site of the present hospital in 1865.
The hospital uses coal-fired boilers to generate steam, for cooking and cleaning. These are currently managed by Meridian Energy
with surplus steam sold to the University of Otago
for heating.
In March 2007 two wards of the hospital were closed due to a suspected outbreak of norovirus, thought to have been brought in by a patient. On 16 August 2008 the hospital was put in lockdown for one week due to a norovirus outbreak affecting 73 patients and nearly 100 staff, blocking most visitors for the duration, and postposting 2,300 procedures.
safety requirements, only "Performance Class One" (twin-engined) helicopters are allowed to land on the hospital.
Public hospital
A public hospital or government hospital is a hospital which is owned by a government and receives government funding. This type of hospital provides medical care free of charge, the cost of which is covered by the funding the hospital receives....
in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is the largest hospital south of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and serves as the major hospital for the Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and Southland
Southland Region
Southland is New Zealand's southernmost region and is also a district within that region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura...
regions (with a potential catchment
Catchment area (human geography)
In human geography, a catchment area is the area and population from which a city or individual service attracts visitors or customers. For example, a school catchment area is the geographic area from which students are eligible to attend a local school...
radius of roughly 300 kilometres, and a population of around 300,000). Patients are transferred or sent to this tertiary level care hospital from smaller secondary care hospitals across Otago and Southland (such as Clyde, Queenstown, Oamaru, Gore and Invercargill)
The hospital is operated by the Southern District Health Board (an entity formed by the amalgamation of the Otago District Health Board and Southland District Health Board.) It is located in the central business district of Dunedin close to Otago University, lying between Great King Street, Hanover Street, Cumberland Street and Frederick Street.
It is a 388 bed tertiary hospital and is affiliated with the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. There are approximately 200 specialist consultants. Total employees number about 3,100.
History
The original hospital was built at The OctagonThe Octagon, Dunedin
The Octagon is the city centre of Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand.-Features:The Octagon is an eight sided plaza bisected by the city's main street, which is called George Street to the northeast and Princes Street to the southwest...
in 1851, and moved to the site of the present hospital in 1865.
The hospital uses coal-fired boilers to generate steam, for cooking and cleaning. These are currently managed by Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...
with surplus steam sold to the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
for heating.
In March 2007 two wards of the hospital were closed due to a suspected outbreak of norovirus, thought to have been brought in by a patient. On 16 August 2008 the hospital was put in lockdown for one week due to a norovirus outbreak affecting 73 patients and nearly 100 staff, blocking most visitors for the duration, and postposting 2,300 procedures.
Helipad
The Ward Block building has a helipad on the roof of the northeast corner . The building was designed with consideration for a helipad, after substantial fundraising one was built on the roof in circa 2000. The hospital helipad improves patient care, reducing the need for ambulance transfers between a remote helipad and the hospital. Due to CAACivil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand is the government agency tasked with establishing civil aviation safety and security standards in New Zealand....
safety requirements, only "Performance Class One" (twin-engined) helicopters are allowed to land on the hospital.