Local medical services are under strain given the Upper Clutha’s rapidly growing population, says the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB), which is encouraging locals to attend a public meeting on the issue this month.

WUCCB chair Simon Telfer told the Wānaka App that while health care “doesn’t typically fall within the community board’s remit, we felt compelled to make something happen and get questions answered on behalf of the community”. 

The Upper Clutha faces major challenges in terms of health services and access to them. 

Despite a rapidly expanding population (including many retired and elderly people), we are served by only three GP practices, two of which reduced after hours care last winter. Many locals have reported finding it difficult to see a doctor at short notice.

We are at least three hours' drive from a tertiary hospital (Dunedin) which offers surgical services, and we rely heavily on a partially government funded and largely volunteer St John Ambulance Service, which is often stretched.

Read more: EDITORIAL: Health, wellness, and priorities

Simon said speakers at the public meeting on Wednesday March 20 (from 7-8pm at the Lake Wānaka Centre) will include Dunstan Hospital clinical director Jonathon Wills, Aspiring Medical Centre GP Dr Fiona MacLean, Te Whatu Ora Southern chief medical officer David Gow, Hato Hone St John Central Otago area operations manager David Baillie, and Te Whatu Ora Southern group director of operations Hamish Brown.

Simon Telfer said the community board felt compelled to “get questions answered”. PHOTO: Jeannine Tuffin

“Much of the evening’s focus will be on the provision of after hours care but, no doubt, there will be broader conversation as well,” Simon said.

He said he hopes to include a few more people to “speak on solutions in the pipeline”.

Simon, who will facilitate the community meeting on behalf of WUCCB, encouraged attendees to send through questions in advance to "frame this conversation and make sure we cover the issues that matter to locals".

"They can do this by dropping a letter into QLDC’s office at 47 Ardmore Street, emailing me at [email protected] or adding a comment to the event listing on the council’s Facebook page @QLDCinfo. On the night there will be limited opportunity to submit some written questions."

“I encourage everyone to attend – the more people who make an effort to come the greater the attention we will get from decision makers. And please make your questions known to the community board before March 20.”

The meeting will take place at the Lake Wānaka Centre from 7-8pm on Wednesday March 20.