Members of the public will have the chance to share their views on the future of neurosurgery in the South with the expert panel at two public meetings in the South next week.
Otago Daily Times editor Murray Kirkness will chair the first hour-long meeting, to be held in the Dunedin Town Hall on Monday evening at 5.30.
The second meeting, to be chaired by Southland Times editor Fred Tulett, will be held in Invercargill at 2pm on Thursday, September 2, at a venue yet to be announced.
The panel, comprising Auckland paediatric surgeon Anne Kolbe (chairwoman), Adelaide neurosurgeon Glenn McCulloch, and consumer advocate David Russell, has been appointed to advise the Director-general of Health about the future configuration of the South Island's neurosurgery services.
Mrs Kolbe, in a statement last night confirming the panel's attendance at the meetings, said the panel was "very aware" of the depth of feeling in Otago and Southland over "earlier proposals" to centre neurosurgical services in Christchurch.
"I think people in Otago and Southland want to be reassured that we have heard what their concerns are and that's why we have agreed to the meetings.
"It's also a chance for us to be clear on the things we are looking at, so people can have confidence in the process."
Mr Kirkness said the meeting was a chance for the panel to outline its process and for people to give their ideas about a suitable solution to the impasse over neurosurgery services in the South.
He hoped those who attended would take a constructive approach in the limited time available.
"I don't think the panel is in any doubt about the depth of public anger over this issue."
He emphasised that his role was that of an independent chairman at the meeting, rather than as part of an official process.
At the meeting, the Keep Neurosurgery in Dunedin Facebook site team will make a brief presentation giving an overview of the community feedback on the issue, Mrs Kolbe will outline the panel's work, and there will be speakers from the floor and open microphone time.
At Parliament today, Messrs Kirkness and Tulett will deliver thousands of petition forms containing 43,227 signatures and calling for the retention of neurosurgery services in Dunedin.
The editors will hand the forms to deputy prime minister and MP for Clutha Southland, Bill English.
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, Invercargill deputy mayor Neil Boniface, Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns and Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes will also attend.
