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The head of the Southern DHB has admitted that breakdowns between surgeons - including personal attacks - have impacted on the delivery of care for colonoscopy patients.
The DHB's colonoscopy service has been dogged by issues for years - with a report last year finding it had one of the highest incidences of Colorectal cancer in the country, and one of the lowest colonoscopy rates.
That report called for surgeons within the service to have mentoring and peer support and for external experts to be brought in to help.
In response, the DHB commissioned another report, which has just been released by the Chief Executive Chris Fleming and which broadly supports the original. Mr Fleming says there has been a breakdown between Gastreoenterology and General surgery within the DHB with some unacceptable behavior by surgeons which he will take formal action over if it continues.
Kathryn speaks with Mr Fleming and long-time critic, Christchurch surgeon Phil Bagshaw.
