Members of the South Island neurosurgery services expert panel have returned to their homes following last week's meetings in the South and it is not yet known when they may return.
National Health Board project manager David Graham said the panel "might have to rethink" the timing of its next trip to Christchurch in the light of the upheaval following last weekend's earthquake.
Panel members had been gathering information in Christchurch on Friday and left on the last flight on Friday evening.
During last week, the panel spent time in Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, with their schedule including public meetings at Dunedin and Invercargill each attended by about 1000 people.
Mr Graham said the panel members Anne Kolbe (chairwoman), David Russell and Glenn McCulloch would be working through and "digesting" the considerable amount of material already gathered and would continue to gather information.
He expected there would be further South Island meetings but the times and places for these were not yet set.
The panel was expected to produce a report by the middle of next month which would be used to inform the Director-general of health's decision on the future configuration of neurosurgery services in the South Island.
Mr Graham said people were still showing interest in communicating with the panel and up to 100 emails had been received at the special email address: expertpanel@moh.govt.nz
