While National was campaigning to use a privately owned birthing clinic in the Hutt, Labour was building a new maternity facility at Hutt hospital.

I have little doubt that the new maternity facility at the hospital would not have been built under this National-led government and that its goal is to privatise health. 

Privatisation costs are much more than direct provision as privateers like to make profits for their shareholders. 

The new Dunedin Hospital should have the capacity to cater for the whole Southland district and cutbacks could jeopardise that capability and capacity. 

In addition, the claim of a $3 billion cost blow-out seems to be a well-used trope but is it reality? Interestingly, this is the cost of providing landlords with interest deductibility. 

It seems that the downsizing of Dunedin Hospital is yet another unwise ideological choice made by our government. 

An estimated 35,000 people out of a population of 125,000 protesting in Dunedin seem to agree.

Mary-Ann de Kort

Gisborne