He made his comments yesterday during a more than four-hour joint meeting of the two boards to discuss his proposal for a super PHO which would cover both regions.
The future set-up remains unclear after the meeting failed to make a decision on his proposal, which he said would save $1 million in administration costs and deliver more equal access to care across the regions.
No vote was taken at the meeting, but after discussion indicated there would not be consensus between the boards on one PHO for both regions, Mr Rousseau withdrew his recommendations.
It appeared if the matter was put to a vote, Otago might narrowly vote for it and Southland would vote clearly against, with some Southland members wanting a PHO for each regionMr Rousseau is to consider the matter further and report to a future meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, he said he would be taking a few days to consider what his next steps would be.
His proposal was for a new organisation to replace the nine existing PHOs, which would all be served exit notices.
He had also asked the boards to reject the South Link Health proposal to establish a PHO which would have had a structure covering Otago, Southland and South Canterbury.
The existing PHOs, some of which gave representations at the meeting, have called for more consultation.
They argue they have been naturally evolving towards closer ties and this would continue.
The four Southland PHOs already operate under one management structure.
South Link Health representatives indicated support for Mr Rousseau's proposal, although its members (general practices) had not been canvassed on it.
Southland board chairman Paul Menzies, who chaired the meeting, suggested there should be examination of two options, one PHO and two PHOs.
Otago chairman Errol Millar proposed the establishment of a working group to examine how a single PHO might work, what the stumbling blocks would be and to come back with alternatives if it was found it would not work.
Richard Thomson, who supported the one PHO proposal, told the meeting management had to do what a coalition government did when agreement could not be reached.
"They work the room. They work out what is possible, what they can do."
Deputy chairwoman of both boards Susie Johnstone, one of several members who called for more information, said there appeared to be a "disconnect" between South Link Health's statement that 80% of general practices were unhappy with the existing set-up and the information from the PHOs supporting what was happening already. Mr Millar expressed concern about general practices leaving one PHO for another, which was not "enormously helpful" to the debate.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Rousseau confirmed he was meeting representatives of 13 Well Dunedin practices last night which were planning to move to the Taieri-Strath Taieri PHO.
The board could not stop such moves, but he wanted to get an insight into it, he said.
During the meeting, Mr Thomson said he was "absolutely certain" if the boards did not make a decision about changes, South Link Health would " make it for us".
Any move for change should be determined by a wider group than South Link Health, he said.
