Wakatipu residents can put their names forward from today for a new independent health panel tasked with making sure the Southern District Health Board (DHB) delivers on recommendations by the National Health Board (NHB) and advises the board on Queenstown's health issues for the next two years.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council is looking for two representatives on a "Wakatipu heath reference panel".
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 DHB representative with enough clout to speak for the DHB's interests.
The NHB proposed the panel would have a relationship with the "tier two" DHB manager responsible for health service provision in the Lakes and Central Otago districts, a position it recommended should be created.
Panel members were to be consulted on any significant service changes proposed by the district or national boards.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden said yesterday the council would act as a facilitator for the panel until it was operational.
She anticipated it would "see through some important changes to the delivery of health in the Wakatipu".
