Southern District Health Board commissioner Kathy Grant had an opportunity yesterday to see how health services operate in the Waitaki district when she visited Oamaru Hospital.
She told the Otago Daily Times that discussing a proposed 5% cut to funding for the Oamaru Hospital, which would substantially reduce Waitaki's health services, was not the focus of the visit.
''That process is a continuing dialogue between the management at the DHB and, equally, the operators of the facilities here,'' she said.
''The point of [yesterday's] visit was ... for us to come and meet with the board and discuss matters that are going to be helpful for us to have a discussion about.''
Mrs Grant is based in Dunedin, but was born in Oamaru's ''hospital on the hill'' and grew up in the town.
''Coming back to visit one's home town, it's always interesting to come and visit a facility such as this,'' she said.
Waitaki District Health Services (WDHS) chairman George Berry said the purpose of the visit of SDHB chief executive Carole Heatly, Mrs Grant and deputy commissioners Dr Angela Pitchford and Graham Crombie was ''general discussion and a familiarisation to the hospital so the commissioners could get an understanding of the services in Oamaru''.
WDHS has expressed its ''anxiety'' over being able to maintain those services, as talks about ongoing contracts with the SDHB remain at an impasse.
It has rolled over its contract with SDHB under the existing terms and funding in the meantime.
After yesterday's meeting, Mr Berry said he was ''optimistic''.
''It [was] our first discussion with the commissioners ... watch this space.''
On July 5, about 2500 people came out in force for a protest march against any cuts to funding for the Oamaru Hospital.
''[The protest] was a wonderful expression of support for the hospital and the people who work in health services in our district,'' Mr Berry said.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher welcomed the commissioners.
He was hopeful the visit would ''reinforce'' the relationship being built between the SDHB, the WDHS and the Oamaru community, and emphasise how important the hospital's services were.
The Waitaki District Council supported any WDHS moves to protect health services, he said.
