Queenstown's new Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital was formally opened at Kawarau Park on the Lake Hayes Estate today (10th December).

Promising more convenient access to elective surgical services, the private owned facility includes three operating theatres and 13 private inpatient rooms, each with their own ensuite.

Southern Cross Healthcare CEO Chris White said that despite the challenges of various COVID-19 lockdowns, excellent progress was made and the hospital had been handed over from the developer on time.

He said operations should be ready to begin in January 2022 with around 35 people initially employed.

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“The plan is to begin low complexity day surgery in one theatre, before bringing a second theatre on stream in March when inpatient services will also begin".

Over time, an increasing schedule of specialist surgery is planned, including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, urology, gynaecology, plastic, and general surgery. The hospital will not be providing accident and emergency services but will be funded by ACC to provide surgery for qualifying injured patients.

Chris Fleming CEO of Southern District Health Board said “This new hospital allows us to provide more convenient services to our Queenstown and Central Lakes population and relieves the existing pressure on our services in Invercargill and Dunedin”.

Central Lakes Trust CEO Susan Finlay said opening the hospital is a huge milestone for the community.

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“A public open day is planned for early next year so we can share this fantastic local asset with the community. People will be able to go behind the scenes to experience parts of the hospital not usually

accessible to the public.”

QLDC mayor Jim Boult said, “I’m delighted to see the new Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital opening so shortly after construction commenced. This is a wonderful addition to the service provided by the DHB at Lakes District Hospital.

“While Lakes provides an outstanding service, particularly for accident and emergency, we have long needed a facility that provides a local option for elective surgery which does not require major hospital level treatment. Folk in our area have had to put up with the requirement to travel to either Dunedin or Invercargill for many years for day surgery or tests and our new facility will negate the need for that.

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“I was delighted when the DHB made the commitment to fund community use of the Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital, effectively providing the services which previously required a trip out of town.

The new hospital is a fifty-fifty joint venture between Southern Cross Healthcare and the Central Lakes Trust, and was constructed by Queenstown Commercial Limited.