WellSouth Primary Health Network Statement about the New Dunedin Hospital announcement

WellSouth Primary Health Network welcomes the government's confirmation that the new Dunedin Hospital will proceed.

Investment in a building is critical. However, bricks and mortar are only part of the system; the hard work is in ensuring the people of Otago and Southland have access to timely, high-quality healthcare across the board.

As the primary health organisation (PHO) supporting general practices and community health services across the Southern region, we must use the opportunity to strengthen and further integrate our healthcare system to enable more seamless coordination between primary and secondary care.

Early intervention is as critical to the health of our community as a modern, future-ready facility is. Our people need to be seen at the right place and at the right time.

The new building will be one part of the system, and we emphasis and advocate for the role of primary care as critical to the sustainability and success of a fully integrated Southern healthcare system.

The role of primary care is crucial to:

• Reducing hospital demand through early intervention, chronic disease management, and proactive care.

• Supporting timely discharge and recovery with general practice follow-up, primary care nursing, and community-based services.

• Strengthening mental health and urgent care pathways to ensure patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time.

A well-resourced and sustainable primary care network will be key to ensuring that this investment delivers the best possible health outcomes for our people. We look forward to continuing our work with Te Whatu Ora, general practice teams, community health providers, and hospital leadership to that end.

WellSouth Primary Health Network CEO Andrew Swanson-Dobbs