Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital transforms local healthcare

For many years, there was a pressing need for a local facility in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago regions capable of performing elective surgeries and other medical procedures that didn't require major hospital-level treatment. Residents often had to travel to Dunedin or Invercargill for day surgeries and tests, creating a significant inconvenience.

To address this need, Southern Cross Healthcare and Central Lakes Trust (CLT) joined forces to build a new hospital in the region. This new facility would ensure the delivery of leading clinical services while maintaining a focus on providing accessible healthcare to the broader population.

It was essential for CLT that the hospital be accessible not only to those with private health insurance but also to patients coming via the public system, ensuring comprehensive community access.

Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital (SCCLH) received its first patients in January 2022. Since then, it has steadily expanded its range of services to meet the community's healthcare demands. SCCLH now offers a comprehensive array of specialty surgeries, catering to both private and public patients. The surgical services include Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Ophthalmology, and ENT. In December 2022, the hospital marked a significant milestone by initiating joint replacement surgery, showcasing the facility's capacity to grow its services safely and effectively.

Approximately 50% of the patients treated at SCCLH are public healthcare patients.

The decision of the District Health Board (DHB) to finance the community's use of SCCLH was a crucial advancement. This funding ensures that a broader segment of the community can benefit from the advanced medical care available at SCCLH, fulfilling the hospital’s mission to serve a wide range of people and making a substantial impact on healthcare accessibility in the region.

The establishment of Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital represents a significant advancement in healthcare for the region. The diverse range of surgical services offered and the inclusive approach to patient care underscore the hospital's role as a critical healthcare provider, addressing both immediate and elective healthcare needs locally and reducing the need for patients to seek treatment outside the region.

Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital offers care to both public and private patients.