Specialist equipment used for diagnosing and treating heart conditions has broken down, at Dunedin Hospital

Te Whatu Ora Southern hospital and specialist services interim lead Hamish Brown has told the Otago Daily Times the cardiac catheterisation lab has been forced to close as a result.

Up to eight patients are usually treated in the 'cath lab' each weekday.

He says while the closure will cause disruption, it won't affect emergency patients having a heart attack.