Six Wakatipu residents have put their names forward for a new independent health panel.
The panel will be responsible for ensuring the Southern District Health Board delivers on recommendations by the National Health Board (NHB) and advises the district health board on Queenstown's health issues for the next two years.
Applications received on, or soon after, the deadline on Friday for two community representative seats on the new Wakatipu Heath Reference Panel would be reviewed by the Queenstown Lakes District Council. The council would act as a facilitator for the panel until it was operational.
The national board recommended a council representative chair the panel. Membership was to include one primary care clinician, one secondary care clinician, at least two community representatives and a district health board representative with enough clout to speak for the board's interests.
The NHB recommended the panel would have a relationship with the "tier two" district health board manager responsible for health services in the Lakes and Central Otago districts, a position it proposed should be created.
Panel members were to be consulted on service changes proposed by the district or national boards.
