A faceoff between the Southern District Health Board and a National Health Board over a proposed increase in the number of elective surgeries of 400 has been a talking point for many.

Many believe that the proposal made by the board’s Deputy National Director, Michael Hundleby is aimed at making the medical practitioners to meet their targets. Moreover, Hundleby has instructed all the hospital board outside Canterbury to provide medical care services to the patients of Canterbury.

Further, Hundleby asserted that the board has accounted various factors to make the proposal and claimed that they will monitor the performance of the SHDB.

Though people who have been in the waiting list for many months are instructed to give priority, any achievement over the target will not be considered by the National Health Board.

Meanwhile, Hundleby has assured that investment for the proposal will be initially given by the Canterbury board, but will be compensated by the National Health Board following the old procedure.

Responding to this news, Chief Operating Officer (Otago) Vivian Blake claimed that they are already struggling to manage the spurt in diseased cases in the busy month of March and further, expressed the step as harsh.