No board members on new-look panel

The make-up of the panel to advise Director-general of Health Stephen McKernan about future neurosurgery services in the South announced this month differs markedly from what was proposed in June.

In a June 18 letter to South Island district health board representatives, released to the Otago Daily Times through an Official Information Act inquiry, Mr McKernan said the panel would include leaders of Canterbury and Southern boards and the leader of another South Island board.

It would also be chaired by an "independent non-clinical person".

The panel announced on July 19 has no members of any district health boards and is chaired by paediatric surgeon Anne Colbe, head of the clinical school at Auckland University and a former president of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

The other members are Adelaide neurosurgeon Glenn McCulloch, whose appointment appears to be in line with proposals in the June 18 letter, and consumer rights advocate David Russell.

The panel is expected to meet this week to determine its terms of reference.

Mr McKernan said this week the panel was put together at the request of South Island district health boards, including Southern.

However, the letter from the boards referring the dispute to Mr McKernan in May was not specific on this point, asking that he "appoint an arbitrator who is empowered to ensure this impasse is resolved urgently".

In response to a question about why the make-up differs from what was outlined in June, the only reference to this in an email statement from Mr McKernan was that the panel composition was carefully chosen to ensure an appropriate mix of skill, experience and independence.

The June 18 letter said the panel would advise on a desired medium-term configuration and "development pathway" for the South Island that would best meet the requirement for a sustainable, high quality neurosurgical service, in line with the guidelines of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia and within current and forecast affordable funding.

It is not clear from the letter whether the panel's work would include a comprehensive comparison of the one-site and two-site models, including a financial analysis.

In his April report on the service development, independent consultant Ian Brown, who recommended the one-site model, noted Canterbury and Southern could not agree on the financial information and an independent review was required to support the sustainable service configuration.

Southern has suggested the one-site model could cost $2 million more annually than a two-site proposal.

Mr McKernan's letter said early recommendations for a governance structure for the regional service would also be established and were "likely to be a lead-DHB model".

Southern has already indicated it would be prepared to take on the lead role in a two-site model, but in a May memo to South Island boards, South Canterbury chief executive Chris Fleming said he had been advised Canterbury was not supportive of the lead-DHB model.