The Otago District Health Board has backed away from a proposal to outsource Dunedin Hospital's mental health outpatient group therapy programme.
Participants focus on areas including goal setting, anxiety management, psychodrama and art therapy, with input from a psychiatrist.
The board had said the move would be more in line with the Government's push for providing health care in the community.
The board considered feedback from the mental health sector before making its decision.
Mental health and community services group manager Elaine Chisnall said changes were possible in future, following a broader review.
"Some part of the feedback indicates that it is difficult to look at one service in isolation and that it would be beneficial to look at the role of psychotherapy services across all adult mental health services.
"The move to the Southern DHB means that it will be important to look at how mental health services are provided, including the models of care for service delivery, to best meet the needs of the community who use our services, which will include both Otago and Southland regions."
Many of the 20 feedback submissions pointed out both advantages and disadvantages of the proposal, she said.
New Zealand Psychotherapists Association spokesman Dr John Farnsworth was delighted the programme did not face outsourcing: "I hope this means the service will continue as it's always done."
Dr Farnsworth said he hoped any future tinkering with the programme would follow adequate consultation.
Meanwhile, Ms Chisnall confirmed the Otago and Southland District Health Boards are going ahead with a proposed change to mental health needs assessment, after a separate feedback process.
Mental health needs assessment for Otago and Southland would be outsourced to a single provider, from June.
Needs assessment is at present carried out by a mix of community and district health board providers, but the boards say this is confusing.
