Greater community collaboration to address the difficulties of attracting health staff to the South was discussed at an Otago-Southland district health boards advisory meeting this week.
Board regional primary care adviser Dr Roy Morris told the community and public health advisory committee meeting that jobs for spouses was often an issue when people were considering moving to the regions.
He mentioned three doctors who wanted to come to rural practice who were married to people for whom such a move was difficult.
If partners wanted high-powered jobs, they were not likely to go to centres such as Otautau, he said.
Otago board chief executive Brian Rousseau said analysis of the gaps in the workforce was needed.
Outgoing regional planning and funding general manager Chris Fraser said the gaps were known already and further discussion with community groups did not need to wait for the analysis.
Mr Rousseau said while some gaps were known, their root causes were not always known.
People might not go to some areas because housing might be too expensive.
If the boards did not have a better understanding of the specific issues, then it could not address them.
The analysis is expected to go before the boards' regional executive early next month.
