Neurosurgeon still awaited

Press, 23 February 1978, Page 3

Neurosurgeon still awaited

The North Canterbury Hospital Board still awaits Government approval to advertise for its first neurosurgeon.

Government approval to set up a neurosurgical unit in Christchurch was given in August last year. Since then a report on neurosurgical services in Dunedin and the proposed Christchurch unit has been submitted to the Minister of Health (Mr Gill). The report was made late last year at Mr Gill’s request by a former chairman of the New Zealand Medical Association, Sir Randall Elliott, and a senior neurosurgeon for the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr P. I Wrightson. I This report supported the!

original Government decision to appoint a neurosurgeon to Christchurch to set up the unit in 1979 with the appointment of a further neurosurgeon about a year later.

The report noted that a major part of the workload of the South Island’s only neurosurgical unit, in Dunedin, came from the Canterbury area. An agreement has been reached with the Dunedin unit to enable a balanced introduction of the Christchurch neurosurgical unit once the neurosurgeon in charge has been appointed. It is likely to be eight months from the time the Government gives its approval until. the appointee can begin setting up the unit.