The number of patients consigned to ''active review'' status for surgery sparked concern at Southern District Health Board's hospital advisory committee meeting in Invercargill yesterday.
In January, 589 patients sat in active review, which meant they would be monitored for 18 months, in case they deteriorated. If that happened, they would be offered surgery. It was the highest level since January 2012.
Chief executive Carole Heatly said the board should encourage GPs to reduce the number of patients referred to the hospital system.
Board member Dr Branko Sijnja, a GP, disagreed.
''No, this is nothing to do with [GPs]. Yes, we refer them, but that's not inappropriate.
''They have been deemed as needing surgery, but not within six months,'' he said.
Ms Heatly responded with an example that GPs might refer children to hospital for possible grommet surgery earlier than they should, because they were wary of the long waiting list. Because of that, surgeons needed to weight patients in order of priority.
Specialties that traditionally had few patients in active review were responsible for the increase, and Dr Sijnja asked if more investigation was needed to find out what was happening.
He sought an assurance patients were not ''falling between the cracks''.
Patient services executive director Lexie O'Shea said temporary ''resource constraints'' were affecting some areas.
She assured board members patients could not fall between the cracks because they were watched for deterioration.
The board was trying hard to reduce the number of patients on active review, she said.
