The Southern District Health Board was told this week that Dunedin's neurosurgery services-which it was just recently allowed to retain-will now be expanded to include neurosurgical training at the University of Otago. Officials are now in the process of setting up a governance board for the new integrated South Island neurosurgery service.

The board, which will have eight members, is being led by Professor Andrew Kaye, a Melbourne-based neurosurgeon and academic. The board chairmen are expected to be revealed by Health Minister Tony Ryall at the end of the month.

The board is intended to be set up by Christmas, though this appears unlikely. Officials are unsure as to when the representatives of the five South Island boards will be able to discuss the proposals to the new service. In addition, the process of appointing a Senior Clinician and a Consumer Representative will also slow things down.

The panel produced a report claiming that "a deep sense of parochialism undermines the development of this South Island-wide view". While health leaders in South Island have always believed their cooperation in the health sector to be successful, others harbour concerns. "We all hope the services won't be the subject of ongoing arguments between Dunedin and Christchurch", said Clutha-Southland MP Bill English.

"If this opportunity is not taken, then we recommend that the service be removed from the purview of the South Island DHBs and operated by another organisation, probably a North Island DHB", the panel concluded.