The South Island neurosurgery expert panel will arrive in Invercargill this morning, after a full-day hearing with Canterbury health and community leaders.
National Health Board project manager David Graham, travelling with the panel, said the panel had met a range of medical staff from the Canterbury District Health Board and viewed some board facilities.
The panel's day, which began at 8.30am and ended after 6pm, also included meetings with primary health organisation representatives, rural community groups and air-transport organisers.
Members Anne Kolbe (chairwoman), Glenn McCulloch and David Russell also met West Coast board chairman Rex Williams, as well as speaking to that board's chief medical adviser.
Today, among the panel's duties will be 45 minutes with the Southern District Health Board before attending a public meeting, to be chaired by Southland Times editor Fred Tulett at Stadium Southland at 2pm.
Panel members will then return to Christchurch for further discussions tomorrow.
Mr Graham said further visits to other areas of the South Island were a possibility and some areas were likely to be revisited, but planning for these was not yet complete.
Some people who wanted to convey their thoughts to the panel were taking the opportunity to use the email address expertpanel@moh.govt.nz given at Monday's public meeting in Dunedin, he said.