It will take time for Dunedin Hospital's surgery booking system to be able to cope with unforeseen events such as strikes and staff shortages, Otago District Health Board chairman Richard Thomson says.
Mr Thomson recently expressed concern that the booking system was being managed so close to its limits that thresholds for surgery were being suddenly altered so the hospital could cope.
There was concern that because of this some patients were not able to get their non-urgent surgery within the target time of six months.
At the recent board meeting, Mr Thomson said he did not wish his comments to be seen as critical of staff, who had been doing their utmost to deliver services.
Moves to reduce the number of patients coming on to the waiting list to allow the hospital a buffer against strikes or staff shortages would be progressive.
Board operations manager Megan Boivin said last week the hospital wanted to reduce the number of people waiting three months or longer for surgery by 300 by taking fewer patients on to the list for less serious conditions.
Mr Thomson said the board delivered about 25% more elective services to its population than national averages suggested it should.
Regional planning and funding manager Chris Fraser said when elective and acute surgery were combined, it did not appear the board was overperforming.
Chief executive Brian Rousseau said there were difficulties with combining the two types of surgery. If services were managing chronic conditions well in the community and reducing the amount of acute services required, then that should allow the hospital to do more elective procedures.
