The petition calling for retention of neurosurgery services
in Dunedin has been referred to Parliament's health
committee.
The petition, under the name of Invercargill MP Eric Roy, and
containing the signatures of 55,741 people, was presented to
Parliament yesterday by Dunedin-based National list MP
Michael Woodhouse.
The earliest it is likely to appear on the agenda of the
select committee is next Wednesday.
Among the options for the committee would be receiving the
petition but saying it had nothing to report on it before
referring it back to the House, or calling for a Ministry of
Health briefing on the issue.
It could seek public submissions on the matter, but given
there is already an expert panel gathering information before
advising the Director-general of health, this appears
unlikely.
Among those on the health committee are Messrs Roy and
Woodhouse, Labour health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson and Green MP
Kevin Hague, a former chief executive of the West Coast
District Health Board.
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