Ashburton Hospital review supported

The Canterbury District Health Board is supporting a recommendation from its chief medical officer, Dr Nigel Millar, to review services at Ashburton Hospital.

Mid-Canterbury GPs' spokesman Dr Peter Sparks said his colleagues welcomed the review if it meant a better way of handling the obvious demand for services.

"It's a time of considerable stress in the Ashburton district and traditional medical supply has been put under pressure," he said.

"I think GPs and the hospital need to work together to come up with a plan for the Ashburton district, and that includes keeping staff levels the way we want it."