Invercargill's MP Penny Simmonds has taken the health minister to task over Southland Hospital's waiting list. 

The National Party MP says the list has ballooned to 681 surgeries since Andrew Little made a commitment seven weeks ago to get it fixed. 

"These deteriorating services have been going on for years. Our hospital is now at a point where it must stop," Simmonds says.

"I've had desperate surgeons, GP’s, families and individuals begging me for assistance, while at least 20 percent of the constituent issues that I’ve dealt with this year have been health related.

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"We must see some real change and I call on the Health Minister to start doing his job and provide Southland people with the safe, timely and appropriate surgeries that the rest of the country takes for granted."

Simmonds says the numbers also expose his staff at the Ministry of Health and its intensive support programme, which Little claimed would bring the province's long waiting lists under control. 

But Little says delays can relate to the specific circumstances of patients, with some unavoidable.

"Politicians trying to score political points off individual cases should be careful in this regard," Little tells the Southland App.

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The Minister says alert level four lockdowns have caused disruption to planned care because during a pandemic it is safer for people to have procedures postponed.

"During September, Southern DHB has reported inpatient Planned Care delivery at approximately 90% against plan." 

He also highlights the $422 million in additional funding the Government has made available to help DHBs get on top of their waiting lists. 

"Planned Care services continue to be delivered at all alert levels, with priority being given to patients with the highest clinical need and urgency. Planned care disruption is expected during the COVID response.”