Draft report arrives
Draft report arrives
The much-awaited top-secret South Island neurosurgical service expert panel's draft report only reached the South Island district health boards after the close of business yesterday.
Neurosurgery
Could cardiac model solve neuro debate?
Could cardiac model solve neuro debate?
The South is waiting for the acting Director-general of Health, Andrew Bridgman, to make an announcement about the future set-up of South Island neurosurgery services.
Neurosurgery draft report to health boards tomorrow
Neurosurgery draft report to health boards tomorrow
South Island district health boards will receive copies of the neurosurgery panel's draft report tomorrow for fact checking.
Christchurch unit would 'struggle to cope'
Christchurch unit would 'struggle to cope'
Christchurch Hospital's already stretched intensive-care unit would struggle to cope with extra patients if all neurosurgery went to Canterbury, clinical leader of Dunedin Hospital's intensive-care unit Mike Hunter says.
Expert panel fees $1485 a day
Expert panel fees $1485 a day
Fees paid to the expert panel reviewing the configuration of South Island neurosurgery services total $1485 a day.
Two-unit fall-back option promoted by Rousseau
Two-unit fall-back option promoted by Rousseau
If there is insufficient goodwill to develop a single service offering neurosurgery in both Dunedin and Christchurch, the fallback position should be two separate units with three neurosurgeons each, Southern District Health Board chief executive Brian Rousseau says.
Neurosurgery report delayed two weeks
Neurosurgery report delayed two weeks
The report of the South Island neurosurgery expert panel will be delivered at the end of October, two weeks later than originally planned, panel chairwoman Anne Kolbe announced yesterday.
University seeks 'academic component'
University seeks 'academic component'
The University of Otago is keen to see a "strong academic component" in any future South Island neurosurgery service, the university's health sciences pro-vice-chancellor, Prof Don Roberton, says.
Two neurosurgery crises for health campaigner's family
Two neurosurgery crises for health campaigner's family
Veteran health services campaigner Paula Stickings is ready to do battle again over neurosurgery services. Health reporter Elspeth McLean finds out why she is speaking out this time.
Canterbury outlines case for single-site service
Canterbury outlines case for single-site service
A one-site service in Christchurch is the only option for South Island neurosurgery, Christchurch Hospital's neurosurgery clinical director says.
Standing up for our smaller communities
Standing up for our smaller communities
Having read Prof Mike Hunter's splendid Otago Daily Times series on the "no brainer" neurosurgical unit saga and his frank assessment of the key medical patient care and professional...
Parliament gets petition
Parliament gets petition
The petition calling for retention of neurosurgery services in Dunedin has been referred to Parliament's health committee.
Petition set to be tabled today
Petition set to be tabled today
Invercargill MP Eric Roy is expected to formally table a neurosurgery petition containing 55,741 signatures in Parliament this afternoon.
Panel digesting material
Panel digesting material
Members of the South Island neurosurgery services expert panel have returned to their homes following last week's meetings in the South and it is not yet known when they may return.
Grey Power opts for Dunedin
Grey Power opts for Dunedin
If a one-site neurosurgery service is preferred for the South Island, then Dunedin should be its home, Grey Power national vice-president Terry King says.
Panel attends Christchurch talk today
Panel attends Christchurch talk today
The South Island neurosurgery expert panel will be listening when the head of neurosurgery in Christchurch addresses clinicians today about New Zealand neurosurgery issues.
Experts hears southern views
Experts hears southern views
There has been little to laugh about in the neurosurgery debate, but expert panel member Glenn McCulloch raised smiles at meeting of about 1000 people in Invercargill yesterday when he referred to himself as "an ignorant Australian".
Arbitration raises legal issues
Arbitration raises legal issues
While legal issues involved in the neurosurgery row are still under scrutiny, South Canterbury District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming says he would expect all of the South Island boards to endorse the findings of the expert panel.
Neurosurgery panel to meet in Invercargill
Neurosurgery panel to meet in Invercargill
The South Island neurosurgery expert panel will arrive in Invercargill this morning, after a full-day hearing with Canterbury health and community leaders.
Risk to lives too high, panel told
Risk to lives too high, panel told
If centralising neurosurgery disenfranchised a significant number of people and put remote communities at risk, the long-term costs would outweigh any perceived efficiency, Otago and Southland civic leaders told the South Island neurosurgery expert panel in Dunedin yesterday.