The prospect of further funding reviews over the next 12 months is at least as concerning as the current proposal to slash 5% from its district health board contract, Clutha Health First says.
Clutha Health First's (CHF) board was working ''feverishly'' to secure Clutha's health services in the face of proposed DHB funding cuts, chief executive Ray Anton said.
It yesterday made a ''counteroffer'' to the Southern DHB on its offer of a 5% reduction in funding.
Mr Anton declined to discuss details of CHF's counteroffer, saying it was not appropriate to publicly discuss details of ongoing contract negotiations.
But the counteroffer did canvas additional reviews of CHF services the DHB had signalled it planned in the next 12 months.
Without going into detail, he said the DHB had indicated it wanted to review funding for outpatients, radiology and maternity services at CHF.
''We are concerned about those other things, about how they will impact on our business. All together they could be equally, or more, damaging [than the offered 5% reduction].
''When you add it all together, it would be pretty detrimental.''
While believing such negotiations should not be done in public - other affected rural hospitals are to hold public meetings about the cuts - he said he made a statement about the counteroffer because the issue had ''become so public so quick'' and he thought people might be seeking reassurance.
''We want to tell people we are involved in this and we are feverishly trying to secure our services.''
He reiterated his previous comments that the proposed initial 5% funding reductions did not affect CHF as much as other rural health services in the DHB's district, because CHF's funding was more heavily reliant on the GP services it provided.
''We do believe we have a good model integrating primary and secondary services. Carole Heatly says we are a model to be replicated by other rural hospitals. With all of that, I don't think the DHB would like to see us suffer.''
DHB executive director planning and funding Sandra Boardman said the DHB was confident it could reach a position that worked well for it and CHF.
''We have a good understanding of each other's views and the shared goal of getting the best health outcomes for the South Otago population with the funding available. Clutha Health First deliver a best practice, integrated model of care that the DHB wishes to see adopted more widely.''
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has joined specialist and resident doctor unions in expressing concern at proposed Southern DHB funding cuts. Union organiser Mike Yeats called the proposals ''an attack on rural and regional health services and the dedicated nurses and health workers who provide them''.
Although proposals for cuts were not all finalised, the potential for a significant number of NZNO members in these Southern hospitals to lose their jobs was clear.
The NZNO was seeking meetings with chief executives of affected hospitals and encouraged people to attend planned public meetings organised by Central Otago Health Services, which runs Dunstan Hospital.
