The Ministry of Health has named appointees to a panel advising whether Dunedin Hospital remains the sole provider of a special radiation treatment.
The Ministry of Health is reviewing radiosurgery, which is used to treat brain tumours and vascular malformations by directing an intense beam of radiation at the head.
Increased demand for the procedure and changing technology had prompted the review.
Ministry of Health cancer programme national clinical director Dr John Childs said new members would be added to the panel as their expertise was required.
"The reference group will consult widely with clinicians and experts, including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and physicists, to gain a picture of the current technologies available for providing [radiosurgery], the current indications for [its] use and the costs involved," Dr Childs said.
Members appointed to the review panel were: Dr Anthony Falkov, radiation oncologist, Auckland District Health Board; Stuart Greenham, area manager, radiation therapy, North Coast Cancer Institute, New South Wales; Dr Richard Sullivan, clinical director, Northern Region Clinical Network; and Associate Prof Dr Robert Smee, senior staff specialist, department of radiation oncology, the Prince of Wales Cancer Centre Sydney.
It was expected South Island neurosurgery clinical leader Martin MacFarlane would be added when he returns from leave.
Last November, the South Island neurosurgery expert panel recommended Dunedin remain the sole provider of radiosurgery because the procedure's involvement with neurosurgery helped create sufficient work for resident neurosurgeons.
The report pointed out that international guidelines suggested the appropriate catchment area for a radiosurgery unit was five million people.
In response, Dr Childs said the neurosurgery panel had not been looking specifically at radiosurgery services.
