Southland senior doctors' concerns over merger not addressed

Southland senior doctors today expressed their disappointment at the Minister of Health's decision to approve the merger of the Southland and Otago District Health Boards.

Dr Charles Luecker said that the senior doctors concerns have not been addressed in this process and they remain particularly sceptical about the effectiveness of Southland's representation within the new structure.  “The transitional clinical oversight committee does not provide any assurance that Southland's interests are represented in a meaningful way after the transition has occurred.

“There has been little indication from the current administration that Southland Clinical Services are necessary to its mission in delivering health care to the region. Management and the Board have given assurances that services will be maintained at Kew but the lack of any concrete guarantees around the nature and the level of clinical services based in Southland and delivered locally should be a serious concern for the community.”

Dr Luecker noted that “essential services that should be the object of strategic planning and development have been allowed to languish and are now the object of predictable, needlessly expensive, locum support. The new environment under a single Board will make advocating for these services far more difficult.”

“Mr Rousseau's assurance that active collaboration between the Southland and Otago Clinical Staff will be encouraged now needs to put on its shoes and prepare for several 217km tramps.”

“The senior doctors are committed to maintaining the best possible clinical services to the Southland community – this means ensuring that the clinical voice is heard and that the assurances given by Board and management are fulfilled.”