Rather than seek a permanent appointee, it is looking for an "acting" clinical leader from within the organisation.
In March, Dr Tim Kerruish stepped down as clinical leader after a disagreement with management over staff numbers.
Senior doctors union representative Dr John Chambers, an ED specialist, said the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) had written to the DHB about the vacancy.
The role was important because it was part of requirements for ACEM accreditation as a training hospital. ACEM would be flexible about the DHB filling the crucial vacancy, because such positions could take months to fill, he said.
"I think the DHB [is] hoping someone will act as clinical leader and solve the problem in the interim without any actual change in FTEs or personnel. [I am] not surprised about this, but it does show that the [ACEM] letter has led to some movement.
"I think looking for an acting clinical leader misses the point and gives some indication of the current level of leadership in the organisation," Dr Chambers said.
The situation affected morale.
"We are in a limbo situation at the moment and this is having an effect on morale and day-to-day operation, representation on committees and direction for our non-medical colleagues within the department ..."
Dr Chambers said ED staff were upset by comments chief executive Carole Heatly made at a hospital advisory committee meeting last week in Dunedin.
Ms Heatly said the fact only about a third of patients presenting at the ED were admitted to hospital indicated the rest should not have attended the ED.
Primary health services, such as GPs, needed to play a much bigger role, she suggested.
Dr Chambers disputed this.
"Front-line staff do not feel that ED performance issues are related to large numbers of inappropriate attenders in Dunedin.
"The attendance figures and admission rates are within norms for our population."
Staff looked forward to the new observation unit opening in the ED next month, he said.
The clinical leader position was an internal appointment, and had not been externally advertised, Otago chief medical officer Dick Bunton said through a spokeswoman.
He was unavailable to respond to further questions, including why the DHB was seeking an acting clinical leader not a permanent one.
