| Southland Hospital | |
|---|---|
| Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) | |
 The lobby of the Southland Hospital | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 46°26′13″S168°21′30″E / 46.43708028012442°S 168.35828093809877°E |
Southland Hospital is the main public hospital in Invercargill, New Zealand. [1] It serves as the major base hospital for the Otago and Southland regions with a population catchment of around 130,000. [2]
Southland Hospital is the largest hospital in Southland. Patients are transferred or sent to this secondary level 4 base hospital from smaller primary care centers across Southland. Southland Hospital is the major trauma centre for the Southland region however, only for patients arriving by road. All patients with major trauma in its catchment area being transported by helicopter will be transported to Christchurch Hospital, Dunedin Hospital, or Nelson Hospital, provided it is feasible and safe to do so. [3]
Southland Hospital was operated by the Southern District Health Board, formed by the amalgamation of the Otago District Health Board and Southland District Health Board. After the disestablishment of all New Zealand district health boards, [4] Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) assumed control over the former DHB's oversight of hospitals and health services. As part of the overhaul, the Southern DHB's functions and operations were inherited by Te Whatu Ora Te Waipounamu, which covers the entire South Island. [5] This included oversight over Southland Hospital.
The hospital is located in the Kew suburb of Invercargill close to the New River Primary School. It is an approximately 168-bed secondary hospital and is affiliated with the University of Otago. [6] It has approximately 1,500 staff members. [7]
The initial formal healthcare provision in Invercargill began with the establishment of the Dee Street Hospital in 1863. This early institution served the community for over a century, operating under various names and undergoing multiple modifications before its eventual closure in 1979. [8] As the population expanded and medical practices evolved, the limitations of the older Dee Street premises became apparent, leading to the planning and development of a more modern and comprehensive hospital complex. [9]
This new facility, commonly known as Kew Hospital, officially opened its doors in 1937 on the current Kew site. [10] The opening of Kew Hospital represented a significant advancement for healthcare in Southland, providing a purpose-built structure designed to consolidate and improve the delivery of medical services. For nearly seven decades, Kew Hospital served as the primary acute care institution for the Southland region. [11] Throughout its operational lifespan, the hospital underwent numerous expansions and renovations to accommodate increasing patient numbers, introduce new medical technologies, and adapt to changing healthcare demands. [12] It was a central hub for various medical specialties, including surgical, medical, and maternity services, playing a pivotal role in the well-being of the Southland community. [13] By the late 20th century, however, despite these ongoing upgrades, the original 1937 Kew site's aging infrastructure was identified as requiring fundamental replacement due to structural limitations and the cost implications of seismic strengthening. [14]
The recognition of the former Kew Hospital's limitations led to the initiation of a major redevelopment project aimed at constructing a modern, resilient healthcare facility. Planning for this new hospital began, culminating in the approval of a significant redevelopment project in 2002. [15] The core objective was to construct a facility capable of comprehensively addressing the contemporary and future healthcare needs of the Southland community, integrating advanced medical practices with patient-centred design.
Construction of the new Southland Hospital resulted in a 168-bed secondary level base facility, designed to meet modern seismic standards and clinical requirements. The new hospital was completed and officially blessed in August 2004. [15] A comprehensive transition period followed, with all hospital services meticulously transferred from the former Kew buildings into the new structure by early November 2004, ensuring continuity of care.
Located on the Kew campus in Invercargill, the current Southland Hospital provides a wide range of acute medical and surgical services, along with extensive outpatient clinics and a fully operational 24-hour emergency department. The facility includes technology such as digital radiology with MRI and CT capabilities, and an electronic patient management system. [16] The hospital also functions as a teaching facility, maintaining affiliations with the University of Otago and its Dunedin School of Medicine, as well as the Southern Institute of Technology's School of Nursing. [17]
Following the completion of the new Southland Hospital, all buildings bar the former administration and nurses' home buildings and the former obstetrics Ward, of the 1937 Kew complex were demolished. This decision was primarily driven by the structural issues inherent in the older buildings and the significant cost associated with bringing them up to current seismic codes. [18] The new facility now serves the Southland region.
Southland Hospital has encountered various challenges and controversies, particularly concerning infrastructure capacity, patient care delays, and aspects of its workplace environment.
Since its construction in 2004, Southland Hospital's emergency department (ED) has been described as "too small" for the region's population, which has grown contrary to initial projections. [19] Reports prepared for Health Ministers have identified "significant capacity constraints" in the ED. [20] These constraints have been associated with extended patient wait times and difficulties in moving patients into clinical spaces for assessment. The absence of specialized treatment areas has also been noted, with the ED reportedly not consistently meeting standards for "safe, effective and dignified care" and lacking adequate facilities for treating infectious patients. [21] In 2024, the department was reportedly tracking at 2,015 patients per bed, which exceeds a recommended target of 1,000–1,500. [22]
Operating theatre upgrades, which were allocated funding in 2021, are pending. [23] The hospital has maintained specific eligibility criteria for surgery, contributing to some of the higher thresholds in the country. [20] As of late 2024, over 1,000 patients were waiting more than four months for surgical procedures. [20] While $3 million was allocated for theatre capacity and $5 million for ED expansion, these combined funds have been assessed as insufficient without "significant compromises," with a more precise figure expected as part of an updated business case. [24] The delivery of these upgrades is anticipated to take a further two years once approved.
Past funding decisions have also been identified as contributing to infrastructure issues. In 2021, it was reported that Southland Hospital was not adequately equipped to manage Covid-19 positive patients due to the removal of anterooms from isolation facilities in the emergency department and medical ward in previous planning, despite original designs and infection prevention advice. [25]
Southland Hospital has been a subject of discussion regarding patient care delays and service quality. In 2023, the Health and Disability Commission (HDC) found that Te Whatu Ora Southern (the health authority responsible for Southland Hospital) did not provide appropriate care and communication to a man experiencing recurring abscesses, leading to treatment delays. [26] This included referral delays, referrals to incorrect units, and prematurely closed referrals.
Wait times for specialist appointments, including for cancer diagnoses, have also been a recurring issue. Despite national recommendations, some patients in Southland have been informed they would be seen by a specialist within six to eight weeks after a cancer diagnosis, [27] with reports in early 2024 indicating that the situation in some departments had not improved. [27]
In May 2025, reports emerged regarding a workplace policy within the Southern Clinical Records and Coding department at Southland Hospital, where some staff were reportedly advised on limits to inter-staff communication and break arrangements. [28] The Public Service Association (PSA) union expressed concerns about this policy, stating it affected staff support and was perceived as "uncomfortable, unnatural and unduly restrictive." [29] While Health New Zealand Southern denied a "no talking" policy, the union indicated the issues remained unresolved. [30] [31]
An internal review of Southland Hospital's Mental Health Services in March 2023 identified concerns among clinicians regarding workplace culture, communication, working relationships, and professional respect. [32] Staff accounts described the workplace as "toxic" and included reports of feeling "burnt out," with claims of bullying within and between professional groups. [33] The review also highlighted a less experienced workforce, ongoing staff vacancies, and a perceived lack of clarity regarding roles and responsibilities, factors noted as contributing to a challenging environment for staff. [34]