Neurosurgery

The development of neurosurgery at Dunedin Hospital will include the appointment of an extra registrar, it was announced yesterday.

Applications have been received for both recently advertised Dunedin-based neurosurgeon positions, but nobody is saying how many.

The Christchurch neurosurgeon who reportedly threatened to resign over the South Island neurosurgery service decision - which stipulated Dunedin would have resident neurosurgeons, against his recommendation - has been appointed the service's clinical leader.

The South Island Neurosurgical Service Board missed its meeting in Christchurch last month because it was scheduled a day after the earthquake.

The Swedish neurosurgeon expected at the Southern District Health Board next month has pulled out, but the Dunedin service will continue to be staffed with locums.

David Russell has been appointed as the expert consumer adviser on the South Island neurosurgery service's governance board.

South Island Neurosurgery Service governance board head Prof Andrew Kaye, of Melbourne, held "getting to know" meetings in Dunedin yesterday.

Concerns raised by Labour's health spokeswoman, Ruth Dyson, yesterday about two Canterbury neurosurgeons' attitude to the planned regionalisation of the service appear to have caused more confusion than clarity.

The new South Island Neurosurgery Service Governance Board is expected to hold its first meeting in January, but the location remains undecided.