The much-awaited top-secret South Island neurosurgical service expert panel's draft report only reached the South Island district health boards after the close of business yesterday.
Questions about the hold-up went unanswered yesterday, despite repeated calls to the National Health Board by the Otago Daily Times.
The national board has placed strict confidentiality conditions on the release of the draft to the South Island boards, with only the chief executives and chairmen allowed to see it for the purpose of "checking accuracy and fact".
Southern District Health Board chairman Errol Millar said yesterday afternoon from his home in Ranfurly he did not know how the report would arrive.
He had advised board members in advance he and chief executive Brian Rousseau would be unable to share anything about the contents of the draft.
Mr Rousseau said last night the 17 megabyte report had turned up after 7 pm by email.
He said he and Mr Millar had until next Wednesday to correct any errors found.
If the boards make use of the full three days they are allowed for checking, it seems that the earliest Acting Director-general Mr Bridgman could officially receive the final report would be Thursday. If changes were required as the result of the checks, it could be later.
The report may still be some way off becoming public because, according to the panel's terms of reference, it will be published only after Mr Bridgman has announced his decision.
He has given no indication of how long he may need to consider the document.
The panel comprising Anne Kolbe, Glenn McCulloch and David Russell was set up to consider the future configuration of neurosurgery services in the South after Canterbury and Southern boards could not reach agreement on the issue.
All South Island boards have agreed there should be a regional service with six neurosurgeons, but the sticking point has been whether there should be a one-site or two-site model.
