The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) has embraced recommendations for the future of health services in the Wakatipu and is making positive progress in working through them, the National Health Board (NHB) says.
It was just over a year since the NHB appointed an independent panel to Queenstown to solve the healthcare deadlock between the DHB and lobby groups.
NHB deputy national director Michael Hundleby, of Wellington, was asked his verdict on the DHB's performance in delivering the 21 recommendations, which were announced by NHB panel chairman Peter Foley in late August on behalf of his team after months of community and clinical consultation.
Mr Hundleby said the NHB monitored the DHB's progress every month.
"The key things that came through in the panel were the need for better dialogue with the community and with the clinical leaders within that community and we're pleased to see the establishment of the Wakatipu Health Reference Group," he said.
"The review noted the issues of the integration of the former Southland and Otago DHBs, that that hadn't progressed as much as had been expected and that was causing some issues.
"The DHB did not have a structure that supported one DHB and the recent restructure by the new chief executive sees a structure that has, for example, one chief operating officer responsible for services across the whole Southern DHB."
Mr Hundleby said "What that should lead to is provision for more services in the central region and some of those services may be in Queenstown and some may be in Dunstan, but accessible by people in the central region.
"Certainly, the DHB is focused on providing better services for the central region."
The controversial NHB recommendation called for a CT scanner to be based in Lakes District Hospital, Frankton, despite lobbying for the expensive diagnostic equipment to be in Dunstan Hospital by its operator, Central Otago Health Services Ltd.
The DHB resolved to install scanners in both hospitals when it met in early June, which was welcomed by all parties.
Engaging with the community and coming up with solutions was exactly what the NHB expected the Southern DHB to do, Mr Hundleby said.
There was progress in making Lakes District Hospital a centre of excellence in rural health, linked with the recommendation the hospital site should be open to more health providers, including the University of Otago.
"We think the DHB has certainly embraced the recommendations.
"They are taking them very seriously and are making good progress," Mr Hundleby said.
"The feedback we are getting from some of the players down there in the debate in the past is that they are recognising that good progress is being made."
