Southern District Health Board (DHB) services a combined population of 290,000, with 70 percent based in
the cities of Dunedin and Invercargill and the remainder living in smaller towns and close-knit rural
communities. If you’re familiar with New Zealand’s iconic tourist and scenic destinations you’ll
recognise locations such as Queenstown, Wanaka, Fiordland, Stewart Island and Central Otago –
each a part of the diverse geographic region our DHBs serve.
A defining difference the region offers health professionals is the particularly close working
relationship we share with the University of Otago and the Dunedin School of Medicine. Dunedin
Hospital is a teaching and clinical training hospital for the School of Medicine and Southland Hospital
maintains a School of Medicine teaching centre. This vital link offers medical professionals the
opportunity to undertake additional study, participate in leading research programmes or to teach.
Southland, Dunedin, Wakari and Lakes District
Southland Hospital, situated in Invercargill, is a 181 bed base facility and one of New Zealand’s most modern, having been rebuilt in 2004.
It incorporates acute medical and surgical, an Intensive Care Unit, four operating theatres, outpatients, 24 hour emergency department,
paediatrics, mental health, maternity and rehabilitation and therapy services.
Dunedin Hospital is a 350 bed facility employing 3,000+ staff, including approximately 200 specialist consultants. An Intensive Care, Neonatal
Intensive Care and a Coronary Care Unit are supplemented by eight main operating and two day surgery theatres. Located in the
heart of the city it embraces all specialties and a broad range of sub-specialties.
Smaller hospitals include Wakari in Dunedin,
a 100 bed facility specialising in psychiatric
and rehabilitation services and Lakes District
Hospital in Queenstown employing medical,
nursing and allied health staff.