Employing suitably qualified audiology staff has been the most important factor in ''significant'' improvements to Dunedin Hospital's audiology service, a review released by Southern District Health Board under the Official Information Act says.
Ordered by Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Theo Baker, the review in August by Auckland District Health Board audiology professional leader Dr Andrea Kelly followed two highly critical findings about the standard of care given to two children.
Contacted last Friday, a health and disability office spokesman said it was still considering whether to take further legal action against the board and/or the former audiologist.
In each case, both were found to have breached the patient rights code, the health board vicariously through failing to support the audiologist.
Dr Kelly's report said the board now employed suitably qualified staff to conduct infant hearing tests and fit infant hearing aids.
''Additionally, the facilities at Dunedin have been substantially upgraded to a level that should comply with standards set for audiological testing and the universal newborn hearing screening and early intervention programme.
''The service and facilities offered at the Dunedin site would now be comparable to or higher than many DHB clinics in New Zealand.''
Appointments were now within acceptable timeframes, in both Dunedin and Invercargill.
At present, all infant hearing aid work was carried out in Dunedin, where the three audiologists were based.
Clinics were conducted fortnightly in Invercargill, and Dr Kelly recommended a review be carried out to ensure the service was equal across Otago and Southland.
She also recommended staff succession planning should start.
The health and disability reports examined two complaints about the then sole-charge audiologist, Mr B, who worked in Dunedin from the late 1980s to 2010.
The board said the issues arose chiefly because he was not a member of the New Zealand Audiological Society.
