Following an alarming call made by a clan of medical specialist from the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, the National Health Board has finally paid heed to their persistent concern of long radiology waiting times and below par administration practices being followed in the Dunedin Hospital

Though National Health Board plays a crucial role in rehauling the existing health care system of the country, this is perhaps for the first time, following a consensus between the district health board and the national body, that a special inquiry was being done to track the overall health performance of the hospital.

The team, led by National Health Board Service Improvement Manager, Jill Lane, is expected to give final report by the end of June, scrutinizing the patient flow and administrative systems adopted in the hospital.

The team, involving Ministry of Health Chief nurse, Jane O'Malley, Canterbury District Health Board emergency specialist Prof Mike Ardagh and another senior medical specialist, is expected to address other issues, including cash-crunched neurosurgery facilities, booking processes for cardiac surgery in addition to the main agenda.

Accepting the fact that the inquiry was something new to the system, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director, Ian Powell, has assured of no harsh questioning to the health professionals.