The DHB provided further information in response to concerns raised in a letter to the editor last week by ENT specialist Martyn Fields, who suggested an Otago Daily Times report into the overloading of the service had not given the full picture.
A fortnight ago, Southern DHB warned GPs not to refer for specialist treatment some conditions, including chronic tonsillitis.
Largely, this was because of skin cancer cases clogging the service, the DHB told the ODT.
In his letter, Mr Fields said the public should know the number of patients on active review, and those returned to GPs after spending time on active review.
Emergency medicine and surgery general manager Colleen Coop, and ENT clinical leader Jamie Ryan, in a joint written response, said there were 105 patients on active review, with conditions including adult tonsillitis.
"These are patients who are not urgent, but are patients we would like to offer surgery within 18 months depending on capacity," they said.
The number of patients returned to their GPs was unavailable, but would be released once compiled.
In response to Mr Fields' contention the DHB was reducing the surgery purchased at private provider Mercy Hospital in 2012-13, the managers said the DHB was opening another operating theatre at Dunedin Hospital.
"The DHB is reducing the amount of surgery provided through Mercy Hospital as it brings an additional operating theatre of its own on stream.
The additional theatre will allow the DHB to provide much of this surgery itself," the managers said.
The refurbishment of the hospital's ninth operating theatre was approved by Southern DHB at its meeting at the start of last month.
