Split over private surgery

A proposal to introduce private surgery at Nelson Hospital has divided Nelson Marlborough District Health Board members.

Hospital management wants to investigate a partnership with Southern Cross Healthcare through which private patients would receive operations without waiting lists.

The initial proposal was rejected by Manuka Street Trust Hospital and the health board management is now awaiting the board's approval to continue investigating the scheme.

But several board members have voiced their opposition.

Lois McTaggart told a board meeting she would need an assurance "that investigations are done in a way that retains a strong sense of responsibility to all those people who are not able to afford private health care and may be disadvantaged as a result".

The hospital says it has "spare capacity" that could be used to treat private patients and raise revenue.

John Moore told the meeting that extra money raised by the proposal could be used to address health inequalities by funding more services.

"Let's get some income if there's some there. We would then have some more funding to spend on people who need it."

- NZPA