At a special meeting lasting less than half an hour yesterday, the Southland District Health Board approved having one primary health organisation (PHO) across Otago and Southland; but the vote was not unanimous.
Board member Karen Goffe sought more consultation on the issue through a health impact assessment, but her call went unheeded.
She said she had found it concerning that after the board made its earlier decision for a PHO for Southland and another for Otago, people complained about the lack of consultation and asked if the decision had been an informed one.
She questioned the need for haste and said it was time for the board to take stock of the comments made.
A health impact assessment would be a robust way to consult with the community, she said.
The board decided to revisit the issue after rural GPs made it clear at a meeting last week they were unhappy with the two-PHO model the board voted for on October 8 and would not be supporting it.
The Otago board had earlier voted for one PHO to replace the existing nine, but had been prepared to support two if Southland was not prepared to go with one.
Chairman Paul Menzies said he had met Invercargill GPs and the majority view was that one PHO was preferable.
Member Kaye Crowther said she had not changed her stance on the issue and still believed the best way to deliver the primary health care strategy was through a Southland PHO.
One PHO would be too big; she was worried the "views at the coalface won't be taken into account".
Member Fiona McArthur said she accepted GPs had concerns but she did not see that these would necessarily go away with one structure rather than two.
Member Neville Cook, who had previously been opposed to the one PHO model, said he was disappointed those concerned about the two-model idea had not emerged until after the decision was made.
Given the opposition from GPs, the board was forced to support one PHO, he said.
Board deputy chairwoman Susie Johnstone said the boards would have to ensure the rural voice and the community voice were kept and heard in the new structure.
She referred to the need for clinical involvement with PHOs and the clear view from GPs that they wanted one organisation.
Chief executive Brian Rousseau, who proposed the one PHO model, said it was important the good things achieved with the existing PHOs did not disappear.
The vote to rescind the previous decision was taken on voices and a show of hands.
Nine voted for and two against.
The names of voters were not recorded.
Chairman Paul Menzies said after the vote he believed the board had reached the right decision.
He hoped the issue had not created a split in the board.
People were entitled to have differing views.
He endorsed Mr Rousseau's comments about work done by the existing PHOs and acknowledged that people within PHOs had been troubled and suffered through the process "along with us".
