This is shown in the terms of reference for the panel released yesterday, more than a week after it was announced.
The first Queenstown visit of the full panel, led by immediate past chairman of the New Zealand Medical Association, Dr Peter Foley, is likely to be Thursday or Friday next week.
Wakatipu Health Trust chief executive, Maria Cole, said she was cautiously optimistic after a meeting yesterday with panel chairman, Dr Foley, and National Health Board deputy director, Michael Hundleby.
There appeared to be genuine willingness to "get to the core of issues and really work with the community, and that is refreshing", she said.
She advised the pair that the time allowed for the panel's work was "optimistic", but "sometimes when you want something done you ask a busy person".
If the panel was committed to the task and had the resources to engage "at multiple levels", then perhaps it was not unrealistic.
Mr Hundleby said the panel was "certainly aiming" to have its report completed by the end of July.
At this stage, he could not say exactly when it would become public, but it was envisaged that it would be as soon as possible after the Southern board was given three days to check the confidential draft for accuracy.
During his and Dr Foley's visit yesterday they met four groups and spent time arranging future meetings.
The dates for public meetings are expected to be finalised early next week.
Mostly, the whole panel will visit, but Mr Hundleby said there might be occasions when that was not possible.
The decision to involve an expert panel follows two years of wrangling over the future of health services in the Wakatipu, and the controversial proposal for a one-stop health centre with a variety of services at a revamped Lakes District Hospital at Frankton or a separate private-public site.
The terms of reference note that despite several consultation processes there is not yet a consensus view by clinicians in both the community and hospital sector, the community generally and the district health board on the most appropriate future set-up of health services.
The final members of the panel were also announced yesterday.
Dr Foley will be joined by emergency medicine specialist and national champion for the shorter stays in emergency departments' health target, Prof Mike Ardagh, of Christchurch, until July when another Christchurch emergency medicine specialist, Dr Angela Pitchford, will take over his role. She is the clinical director of Christchurch Hospital ED and was not available before next month.
Prof Ardagh is also on the National Health Board team assessing the systems at Dunedin Hospital.
The appointment of consumer advocate David Russell to the panel was announced last week.
The panel's consideration is to cover the clinical and financial sustainability of health services, integrating care for improved patient experience and outcomes, support for workforce training and development and access to other hospital specialties or support services.
Mr Hundleby said administrative staff from the national board were already analysing the material gathered on the issue.
• Chairman of the Wakatipu health governance reference group, Graeme Todd, is out of the country and said yesterday he had not seen the terms of reference so preferred not to comment.
