Health Panel Membership Confirmed

The new Wakatipu health panel will meet for the first time next week, Queenstown Lakes District Council Mayor Vanessa van Uden said.

The Council called for expressions of interest for the new health body after a call from the National Health Panel to establish a community reference group to input to recommendations for the future delivery of health services in the Wakatipu.

The national panel recommended a membership of seven including: two health professionals; Council and SDHB representation; and two community representatives.

“I am extremely grateful to Drs Elinor Slater and James Reid who will very ably fill the health professional roles,” Mayor van Uden said.

The Council received strong interest in the two community representative roles.

“No doubt that reflects the high level of interest in the future of health services in the Wakatipu,” she said.

Council had appointed two long-time and well known locals to the role, businessman, director and chairman of the Wakatipu Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Tony Hill and financial advisor and author Martin Hawes.

Council (Mayor van Uden) and SDHB representation will take the panel membership to seven.

The Council agreed to call for expressions of interest to facilitate the new panel; however the panel will now act independently of the Council.

“This panel will see through some important changes to the delivery of health in the Wakatipu. It will be tasked to maintain a strong interface with the community and to adopt a facilitative and constructive approach,” Mayor van Uden said.