The Southern Primary Health Organisation still has no health worker professional development programme, nearly a year after the super-sized PHO formed.
The PHO told the Otago Daily Times a programme was in the works, for which it was seeking extra funding from the Southern District Health Board.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation professional nursing adviser Cathy Gilmore said before the October 2010 amalgamation, nine Otago and Southland PHOs had a "fantastic" joint education programme.
It had been disappointing to lose a strong, well-established scheme.
It helped nurses obtain a required 60 hours' professional development every three years. The programme was especially useful in Otago and Southland for those practising in remote places, where it could be difficult to access training.
Ongoing education was required for maintaining registration, and while final responsibility rested with health workers, it made sense to help, especially for those in isolated areas. Long-term, the community stood to benefit from the PHO's investing in the training, Ms Gilmore said.
SPHO chief executive Ian Macara said the PHO's professional development proposal was "nearing completion" but needed the Southern DHB to approve an extra $200,000.
Mr Macara said the professional development programme continued until May this year, rather than lapsing with the October amalgamation.
He confirmed the PHO had received one formal complaint about the lack of a professional development.
