A comment from one
of those advising on the future configuration of neurosurgery
in the South Island was about the future of the Dunedin unit
as a training unit if it stood alone, not about its future in
general, says the Director-general of Health.
Mike Hunter, clinical leader of intensive care at Dunedin
Hospital, complained on Thursday to the Director-general of
Health that a member of the panel, Adelaide neurosurgeon
Glenn McCulloch, allegedly told other neurosurgeons at a
conference last year that he thought Dunedin's days of
offering neurosurgery were "numbered".
Mr McCulloch is a member of the panel to advise the
Director-general of Health, Stephen McKernan, about the South
Island's neurosurgery service, as the Southern and Canterbury
district health boards cannot agree whether the service will
be delivered from one site or two.
Mr McKernan responded to Mr Hunter's complaint in a letter to
Southern District Health Board chief executive Brian Rousseau
yesterday.
Mr McKernan said Mr McCulloch told him the comment to retired
Dunedin neurosurgeon Sam Bishara was made in response to a
question on the future viability of Dunedin Hospital's
neurosurgery unit as a stand-alone training unit under Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons guidelines.
In reaching agreement that a single integrated service was
required, South Island chief executives would already have
been mindful that a stand-alone unit in Dunedin would not
meet the College's guidelines, Mr McKernan noted.
He said Mr McCulloch's observation of the college's
requirements was accurate and simply reflected what South
Island chief executives had already recognised, that there
should be one South Island neurosurgery service and any unit
in Dunedin should be part of that.
With regards to Mr Hunter's concerns that two of the
appointments on the panel - Mr McCulloch and chairwoman Anne
Kolbe - represented viewpoints from big cities, Mr McKernan
said Mr McCulloch's appointment came highly recommended from
the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia.
He had asked both of the panel members to call Mr Hunter to
discuss his concerns.
Mr Hunter last night acknowledged the response. He said he
looked forward to further discussions with the advisory
panel, but had no further comment to make at this stage.
- debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
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