Southern campaign to keep neurosurgery

More than 2500 people have signed up to Facebook page Keep Neurosurgery in Dunedin after a review that recommends it be located in Christchurch.

The Facebook page set up this week has attracted hundreds of supporters, from former patients to medical specialists.

Southern District Health Board member Richard Thomson is one of those encouraging people in Otago and Southland to put their energies behind retention of neurosurgeons at Dunedin Hospital.

Dunedin intensive care nurse Pam Adams also launched a campaign supporting the service at the weekend.

Thomson said public awareness was the key to sustaining neurosurgical services in Dunedin and a raft of associated medical specialties and services that would be affected by its possible closure.

A recent review of South Island neurosurgical services concluded all neurosurgeons should be based in Christchurch. This would be a departure from common sense, Thomson said.

The issue surfaced about 18 months ago as moves to set up a regional service were being explored, he said.

Since then both Dunedin neurosurgeons had left the hospital.

Replacing them would not have been a problem.

- © Fairfax NZ News