The petition calling for retention of neurosurgery services in Dunedin has been referred to Parliament's health committee.
The petition, under the name of Invercargill MP Eric Roy, and containing the signatures of 55,741 people, was presented to Parliament yesterday by Dunedin-based National list MP Michael Woodhouse.
The earliest it is likely to appear on the agenda of the select committee is next Wednesday.
Among the options for the committee would be receiving the petition but saying it had nothing to report on it before referring it back to the House, or calling for a Ministry of Health briefing on the issue.
It could seek public submissions on the matter, but given there is already an expert panel gathering information before advising the Director-general of health, this appears unlikely.
Among those on the health committee are Messrs Roy and Woodhouse, Labour health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson and Green MP Kevin Hague, a former chief executive of the West Coast District Health Board.
