Up to 10,000 marched through central Dunedin at lunchtime
today protesting the possible loss of neurosurgery services.
Starting in the Octagon, the protest was led by Dunedin Mayor
Peter Chin and Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt, and finished
with the crowd encircling Dunedin Hospital.
Mr Chin said he and the region's other mayors want to send a
strong message to the Government that the proposal is not
acceptable.
The protest follows an independent report's suggestion to put
all six of the South Island's neurosurgeons in Canterbury.
The five South Island DHBs have agreed on centralising South
Island neurosurgery but cannot agree on how it will be
organised.
Canterbury District Health Board wants all six neurosurgeons
in Christchurch, while the Southern District Health Board
wants two of the six Dunedin-based.
Southland and Otago are joining forces in a bid to save
neurosurgery in their regions.
About 1000 people attended a public meeting in Dunedin last
night, and passed a resolution demanding retention of the
services.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.