Information to back a claim of a significant cost saving from the planned privatisation of southern hospital kitchens will be released next week.
The Southern District Health Board has agreed in principle to privatise kitchens in Dunedin, Invercargill, and Queenstown, creating anxiety for staff, who will be transferred to food giant Compass Group if it goes ahead.
The board is yet to make a final decision; the move is part of a national procurement process boards could opt to join if they chose. The Otago Daily Times requested detailed figures to support a claim the privatisation would save $870,000 in the first year.
The Crown owned Health Benefits Ltd, which is involved in the process, said the figure was being withheld under the Official Information Act because it would be released to unions this month.
Health board patient services director Lexie O'Shea said the information would be released on the board's website next week, along with a copy of the consultation document.
''This document will discuss at a relatively high level the model that is proposed by the Compass Group.
''This cannot be at an individual staffing level, as Compass can only determine this level of detail if the SDHB board make the decision to go ahead to enter into a contract with them.''
Staff would transfer to the Compass Group if an agreement was reached, but no decision on their jobs would be made by Compass before October.
Service and Food Workers Union national secretary John Ryall said the southern health board was under financial stress, and was not in the best position to make the decision.
''They're under such financial pressure that it's quite easy to be hooked in by someone who promises you the world.''
Staff faced months of uncertainty and a restructure review by their new employer.
''If you've got uncertainty for people who are responsible for the nutritional and food requirements of vulnerable patients in hospitals, it's not very satisfactory.''
Mr Ryall said the union was trying to gain disclosure of the full business case for the proposal, but had so far been unsuccessful.