The managers of both Central Otago hospitals have declared their support for a merger of the Otago and Southland District Health Boards.
Central Otago Health Services Ltd manager Carol Horgan and Maniototo Health Services Ltd manager Geoff Foster made their feelings known at a consultation meeting in Alexandra last night. Dr Horgan manages Dunstan Hospital at Clyde. Mr Foster manages Maniototo Hospital at Ranfurly.
"This merger will be good for the residents of Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes," Dr Horgan said.
Mr Foster said it would be difficult to find a smaller hospital facility than Maniototo.
Nine people attended the meeting.
Southland board chairman Paul Menzies said the two boards already shared information technology and human resources, and had created clinical services shared across the boundaries.
• Eight people attended the Balclutha meeting yesterday afternoon.
Mr Millar said cross-border services was one of the issues raised. Waipahi, Tapanui and Tokanui residents mentioned accessing services in Southland or Otago.
"Another thing raised was how will the merger impact on the local hospital, and the answer was, it'll have no effect on it," Mr Millar said.
The next in the series of 11 meetings will be in Queenstown tonight. Submissions on the consultation document close on December 11.
