Neurosurgeons should serve on board

It would make sense to have neurosurgeon representatives from both Southern and Canterbury district health boards on the governance board for the new neurosurgery service, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell says.

He was responding to reports this week of two Canterbury neurosurgeons' concerns about the proposed new model for the South Island, which would see neurosurgery performed in both Dunedin and Christchurch.

Mr Powell said he was not greatly surprised at the concerns aired, given the history of the issue.

However, not having neurosurgeons represented on the proposed governance board perpetuated the divisions between Canterbury and Southern - "it doesn't overcome them".

He agreed it would be difficult to appoint from Southern at this stage as its service is staffed by locums, but he considered the issue should be looked at once there was a permanent neurosurgery appointment in Southern.

It is expected that a Swedish neurosurgeon will arrive in Dunedin next March.

The governance board is chaired by a neurosurgeon, Prof Andrew Kaye, from Melbourne and there is also to be an independent neurosurgeon appointed.

All appointments to the new board are yet to be announced, but its first meeting will be held next month.

Yesterday Labour's health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson repeated her concerns about the process being followed.

She dismissed suggestions from Dunedin National List MP Michael Woodhouse that the party was trying to have a "bob each way".

Ms Dyson said she had always supported the two-site model for the South Island service, but the proposal the expert panel had arrived at was not a sustainable solution if two of the four Canterbury neurosurgeons were not willing to be a part of it and replacements needed to be sought.

Mr Woodhouse said given the tension between the doctors and the boards involved, it was not surprising there was some unhappiness with what was being proposed.

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