While there is plenty of goodwill in relationships between mental health service providers and the Otago District Health Board, there is " frustration all round" at the lack of progress in service development.
That's the view of PACT director of operations Donald Shand, who is one of those in mental health services keen to see the outcome of the review of the board's planning and funding processes and cost structure being carried out by Deloitte.
Deloitte has been contracted by the Ministry of Health to undertake the review, which will also include the Southland board.
Fieldwork is expected to be completed this month, but the ministry is not expecting the final report until March.
Requests to the ministry to disclose the cost of the Deloitte contract have not received a response.
The review follows concerns about the financial sustainability of the two boards' services and the development of future services as both boards plan for ongoing deficits.
Initial information provided to prospective tenderers for the job showed the review would include assessing the implications, financial and otherwise, of the Otago boards' progress in implementing its mental health services plan.
Lack of progress in this area has been criticised by organisations outside the board.
The review is also to cover the views of large mental health services outside the board, consumers and family representatives on the board's capacity and capability to plan, fund and achieve objectives for effective and efficient mental health services.
Several organisations contacted by the Otago Daily Times indicated they would be keen to contribute to the review but had not yet been approached.
Mr Shand said an evaluation was needed of the core strengths of community-based organisations in relation to those offered by hospital-based services and how the two could work together rather than compete.
The risk was that while this was being sorted out, people who needed services ended up waiting longer.
Mr Shand said the new planning and funding team at the health board, led by David Chrisp, had established a good working relationship with the sector, but active leadership at both board and ministry level was needed.
The concern over population-based funding, which the board says is preventing the establishment of new services because the board will not be paid to keep them going, will addressed in a national review.
