Health advocacy group Health Action Wānaka (HAW) is encouraging residents to take part in a regional survey which includes questions about people’s access to health care.

HAW contributed health-related questions for the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Quality of Life Survey this year.

“The findings from this survey will support our advocacy to ensure the people of the Upper Clutha have equitable access to healthcare,” the group said.

QLDC says it has included additional questions “around health and access to key services to better understand the needs of residents in this area”.

Questions include what (if anything) prevents people from seeing a health care professional, whether or not locals have had to travel outside the region for health care, and how people rate access to mental health care in the area.

The survey closes this Sunday (November 16) at 5pm.

HAW is also pushing for more “quick wins” for health services in the district, following the recent confirmation of free blood tests for residents.

Last month health minister Simeon Brown said free blood testing would be rolled out for nearly 24,000 people living in Wānaka and Te Anau - a move HAW called “a really big win” for rural healthcare access.

Previously, patients in both Wānaka and Te Anau have had to travel over an hour to reach a free collection centre or pay a co-payment at their local GP.

Read more: Free blood testing launches in Wānaka

“During our research, we met people with chronic conditions who have paid thousands of dollars for blood collection - a service which is free in most places in New Zealand,” HAW said in a recent update.

“Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and helped us raise awareness of this issue.”

HAW said there is more work to do, however.

“While this is a really good short-term solution, in the longer term, we are advocating for a walk-in blood collection centre in Wānaka and longer phlebotomy hours so we can get appointments when we need them.”  

The group has now turned its focus to the two other “quick wins” it proposed to Health Minister Simeon Brown in July: the introduction of psychiatric consultations via telehealth for NGO and community frontline mental health and addiction services in this region within 12 months; and local access to publicly funded radiology services. 

“We will continue to advocate for these two quick wins,” HAW said.

“Currently, we have to drive to [Dunstan Hospital in] Clyde for publicly funded x-rays and ultrasounds despite us having two local providers that could deliver this service in Wānaka.” 

PHOTO: Supplied