A couple of recent health focus groups discussing access to local health services were so well supported the organisers have decided to host a third session.

Health Action Wānaka’s (HAW) two focus groups, hosted at the Wānaka Community Hub last Thursday (July 25), were oversubscribed, HAW steering committee chair Monique Mayze said. 

A third focus session will be held at the same venue tomorrow (Thursday, August 1) from 11:30am -1:30pm. Those who wish to participate need to register to attend by contacting focus group facilitator Trish Fraser on 0274 435 241 or via email: [email protected] 

“We really appreciate people taking the time to talk to us about their experiences of accessing the healthcare system and any barriers they have faced,” Trish said.

“Over the past few months, we’ve discovered significant inequity in our community’s access to healthcare services, and we want to better understand where that inequity lies so we can advocate for change.”

For example, people in the Upper Clutha must pay to have blood collected (for a blood test). This service is fully publicly funded in other locations such as Clyde, Queenstown, and Gore, Monique said. 

“Our local community does not have a doctor-led overnight medical service (a nurse-led service is due to commence in September) [and] there is no other town in New Zealand with the population size of Wānaka, that is as far away as we are from a major hospital,” she added. 

“There is a lot of discussion going on at the moment relating to healthcare delivery in the Central Otago region and we want to make sure that any decisions relating to the healthcare needs of the Upper Clutha community are evidence based.”

HAW has received around 150 respondents to date to its online survey, which runs until the end of August, but would like to see more completed surveys. Access the survey here.

The health advocacy group is also aiming to speak to a diverse range of people so it might conduct some further interviews with segments of the community that were less well represented at the focus groups, such as migrant members of our community and young people, Monique said. 

HAW plans to analyse all the quantitative and qualitative data collected and prepare a report summarising the findings.

“Our research findings will be shared with the community, the Minister of Health, decision makers at Health New Zealand, and other health system stakeholders,” Monique said. 

HAW also intends to hold a further focus group for health practitioners before the end of August to understand their experiences of delivering healthcare in the Upper Clutha community, Monique said. 

Any health practitioners (eg allied health professionals, GPs, nurses) interested in being involved are asked to contact Trish Fraser on 0274 435 241 or via email: [email protected]   

HAW was formed earlier this year to provide a community-led voice, ensuring Upper Clutha locals receive “the health services they deserve both today and in the future”, and to place pressure on officials to improve access to local health services.

The group’s website outlines its short and long term goals. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App