Neurosurgery petition presented at Parliament

'Otago Daily Times' Editor Murray Kirkness (left) and 'Southland Times' Editor Fred Tulett (right), with backing from Otago and Southland mayors, present MP's Michael Woodhouse and Eric Roy with a 43,000 signature petition calling for neurosurgery to be kept in the South at Parliament in Wellington. Photo by NZPA.

MPs, local government leaders and media from Southland and Otago joined forces in Wellington today as the fight to retain neurosurgery services in Dunedin continues.

A petition, signed by 43,227 people, was collected by the Otago Daily Times and the Southland Times newspapers.

Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, Invercargill deputy mayor Neil Boniface, Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns, Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes, Otago Daily Times editor Murray Kirkness and Southland Times editor Fred Tulett were among those who delivered the petition to Parliament today.

Previous protests have been held over the issue.

Deputy Prime Minister and Clutha Southland MP Bill English said hospitals in Dunedin and Christchurch could work together to provide the services.

The issue had been around for years and there needed to be a lasting solution, he said.

"The model of doctors bickering with each other over where it should be doesn't work."

There did not have to be a choice between Christchurch and Dunedin - the two hospitals could work together, he said.

"I can't see why we can't have access to high quality stable neurosurgery services in Dunedin, but they may have to organise it differently to achieve that."

Mr English said he had spoken with Health Minister Tony Ryall about the issue.

Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said there was a fear that if neurosurgery services were taken away from Dunedin it would be the beginning of further losses.

"There is a unity of will by the community of Otago and Southland to retain neurosurgery facilities in Dunedin for the benefit of Otago and Southland."

Mr Chin said it was logical to have services in Christchurch and Dunedin.

It was a long way to travel from Invercargill or Te Anau to Christchurch if someone needed emergency neurosurgery, he said.

Four of the six South Island district health boards (DHBs) have agreed they would be best served a single service staffed by six neurosurgeons based in Christchurch, but Otago and Southland - which have amalgamated - want two of the neurosurgeons based in Dunedin.

An expert panel has been set up to consider the issues and will report to the Director-general of Health in October.

Mr Ryall previously said South Island DHBs had agreed they needed a "whole of South Island" neurological service. However, they could not agree on how that would work and the panel was set up.

Today, he said he would need a lot of convincing there should not be neurosurgery services for people in Otago and Southland.

"I can understand why the people of Otago and Southland feel about this service the way they do."

He said he was confident a decision in their best interest could be reached.

"The DHBs can't agree on where the neurosurgeons should be based, the doctors can't agree, so they've asked the Director-general (of Health) to arbitrate."

Neurosurgery is the medical speciality concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.