The changing relationship between hospitals and general practice helped convince Branko Sijnja to stand again for Southern District Health Board election.
Some procedures carried out in hospitals at present will transfer to GPs during the next three years, he said yesterday, the day candidate nominations opened. He had previously been undecided about whether to stand a fourth time.
Yesterday, board member Richard Thomson said he had still not made up his mind whether to stand, and was considering the likely workload.
Dr Sijnja, a Balclutha GP, believed his dual role as a part-time GP and board member would be valuable over the next term.
The days of general practice operating in virtual isolation from the rest of the DHB were coming to an end.
One likely change was allowing GPs to refer patients for CT and MRI scans, he said.
A new ''alliance'' body, which has not yet been officially announced, would be an ''important player'', bridging the gap between the DHB and GPs.
He agreed the new alliance was effectively another layer of bureaucracy, but ''one we need''.
He offered continuity and a strong connection between the health board and GPs, as well as an urban-rural link, Dr Sijnja said.
University of Otago health systems authority Robin Gauld said the alliance body was a significant development, which would help steer the transfer of funds from hospitals to the community.
DHBs and primary health organisations had not communicated particularly well, and the new alliances were expected to improve this.
It should make life easier for patients by streamlining processes, he said.
Board member Kaye Crowther, of Invercargill, confirmed yesterday she would stand again. Board members Mary Flannery, of Central Otago, and Neville Cook, of Invercargill, have said they will stand, while deputy chairman Paul Menzies, of Invercargill, and Malcolm Macpherson, of Alexandra, will not.
A report prepared for candidates says the DHB provides services for more than 308,000 people, and the organisation employs more than 4500 staff.
Contacted late yesterday afternoon, Dunedin City Council electoral roll officer Pam Jordan said no nominations had been received for the DHB election yet.
