A former member of the Wakatipu Health Community Reference Group has described the Southern DHB's pending decision to install a CT scanner at Lakes District Hospital within two years as "practical and pragmatic".
Speaking to the Queenstown Times on Friday, Graeme Todd said he was "delighted" to see the region would benefit immediately from a CT scanner at Dunstan, deemed to have the most immediate need because of its "growth and ageing population".
"[It] will make us a lot better off than what we are now.
"It would be nice to have it tomorrow [in Queenstown], but we have all got to appreciate with public health spend we have got to be pragmatic and practical.
"Naturally [I'm] disappointed that something's not going to happen immediately, but at the same time [I] understand and [am] very supportive of the general proposition."
A report from DHB funding and finance general manager Robert Mackway-Jones will be considered on Thursday.
The delay for the Queenstown CT scanner was because of an expressions-of-interest process, which seeks health providers to develop or relocate services to Lakes District Hospital.
Expressions of interest close on June 15, with interest shown by a private surgical provider in developing day case and other procedures on the site.
The services would require a diagnostic suite, likely MRI/CT, the report said.
Once preferred providers had been selected, a site master plan and service configuration plan would be developed, along with consents and building facilities and formal approvals from all parties.
"This is likely to take a further two years from today before facilities and services would be ready, but provides an opportunity for the area and wider district from a staff recruitment perspective."
The report said a service and site development plan could be finalised "around November".
Mr Mackway-Jones' report said it was proposed operating costs be split 70-30 (public-private) but initial capital investment for the scanner be split 50-50.
The report said ownership for the scanner would have to reflect the community funding support and public service provision.
However, "the final public-private partnership agreements may determine the proportional mix of these factors".
Mr Todd said he was confident if the DHB "can't or does not deliver", the community would ensure a CT scanner became a reality in Queenstown.
"I've always been confident that we have the ability to raise the money to do that and I continue to be confident about that," Mr Todd said.
On Saturday, the Otago Daily Times reported former Wakatipu Health Trust executive officer Maria Cole was concerned the DHB had used "flawed data" to come to its conclusion the need was greater in Dunstan.
Mr Todd said he also had concerns. However, the most encouraging aspect was a recognition the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago areas were the "growth area" for the DHB.
"The DHB needs to get up to speed with providing the services we deserve.
"If that means some facilities have to be taken away from base facilities, then so be it.
"I've been saying that for 20 years."
Remarkables Park Ltd co-director Alastair Porter, also the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce chairman, did not want to comment on the proposal at this stage for fear of "jeopardising" any decision the DHB might make at its meeting.
In March, Mr Porter said overwhelming economic evidence showed Queenstown was the best location for a diagnostic CT scanner and the eventual placement of the CT scanner would be "hugely influential" when it came to deciding where investment in hospital facilities were located in the future.
