Frustration over plans to scale-back Dunedin Hospital

The Government's confirmed it will build a new inpatient building, at the already-purchased Cadbury factory site.

It's aiming to have 351 beds on opening - almost 50 less than originally promised.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists chief executive Sarah Dalton, says that's a substantial drop.

She says the original numbers were based on population predictions and age distributions.

Health Minister Simeon Brown, says work will begin on the site this year, and they're hoping to open in 2031.