The possible loss of an outpatient clinic at Oamaru Hospital and $2 million extra cost for the Southern District Health Board were among concerns raised by southern MPs questioned about the neurosurgery services impasse.
Invercargill MP Eric Roy, however, said surety of treatment was more important for patients than where it was provided.
The MPs' opinions were sought on the controversial proposal to house all six neurosurgeons for the South Island neurosurgery service in Christchurch, rather than have two in Dunedin.
The Canterbury and Southern boards cannot agree on the issue, which has now been placed in the hands of Director-general of Health Stephen McKernan, who is convening an expert panel to advise him.
National's MP for Waitaki, Jacqui Dean, said she understood if neurosurgery services were provided solely from Christchurch, the outpatient clinic at Oamaru Hospital would not be in the plans.
"That concerns me greatly."
She said her preference would be for retaining services at their existing level and for neurosurgery to continue to be provided from Dunedin.
Distances and safety also had to be considered.
"I would much rather see the Otago Rescue Helicopter bring an acute case from Queenstown to Dunedin than the patient have to travel three times the distance, to Christchurch.
"It's quite simple."
She was concerned at any possible downgrading of Dunedin Hospital and the training available there.
Labour list MP David Parker said he supported having two neurosurgeons in Dunedin and he considered the arguments for that were "pretty compelling".
The Southern board estimated the one-site Canterbury proposal would be $2 million a year more expensive than the two-site plan.
Mr Parker said that would mean cuts in other services and he could not see why Southern patients should be worse off because of "some intransigence" on Canterbury's part.
"It's got to be a wasteful use of precious health resource."
National MP for Invercargill Eric Roy said what people wanted to know was that they were going to get treated, and when and where they were going to get that treatment was less relevant.
Asked if he was concerned about the distances involved with the Christchurch model, he said "they are still making aeroplanes".
Accessibility and a "funding model which ensures no-one misses out" were the important things.
He said he had no way of knowing if having neurosurgeons in one place led to better outcomes for patients in such a "high-risk" area of medicine.
Deputy Prime Minister and National MP for Clutha-Southland Bill English said he had no comment at this stage on the neurosurgery services issue.
Other southern MPs Michael Woodhouse, Pete Hodgson and Clare Curran have already voiced their support for retaining services in Dunedin.