Queenstown Lakes District (QLDC) mayor Glyn Lewers has welcomed yesterday’s (Friday June 6) publication of the Otago Central Lakes health services and assets project’s strategic report.

The report, which was sent to Minister of Health Simeon Brown in February, identifies opportunities to increase public health services in Otago Central Lakes by partnering with the private sector.

“The strategic report aligns with the component of the Regional Deal proposal that QLDC and [Central Otago District Council] are partners to, towards developing innovative approaches to the area’s health system,” Glyn, who is also on the steering committee behind the report, said.

It calls for long-overdue investment in health services and infrastructure, outlining well-documented priorities for investment needed across our region.

Mayor Glyn Lewers says he is looking forward to hearing back from the minister of health on the report. PHOTO: QLDC

They include timely access to rural/specialist doctors, and after-hours care with strong clinical support; equitable, 24/7 emergency and urgent care, as close to home as possible; ambulatory services for planned appointments, including infusion services; and elderly and end-of-life care available in the community; and safe local maternity care.

Other areas in the report are priority access to secondary specialist care when long-distance travel is needed; more care in the community, supported by virtual/telehealth services; and accessible mental health and addiction services.

The report proposes a regional model of care delivered across three key locations: Queenstown, Wānaka, and Central Otago, with six early-stage public-private partnerships already identified - one of which is the Wānaka Health Precinct.

The precinct, an initiative of Wānaka-based property investment company Roa, could feature a five-level hospital with four operating theatres, imaging services, a 24-hour emergency department and more than 70 inpatient, emergency, and post anaesthetic care beds - and it is currently going through the resource consent process.

Read more: ‘Health precinct’ awaits council decision

In the report, the steering group asked the health minister to acknowledge the report, identify immediate priorities from the six opportunities presented, and guide officials to participate in developing business cases for identified priorities by the end of 2025. 

Months on from sending the strategic report to the minister of health, Glyn provided a polite nudge.

“We look forward to feedback and direction from the minister of health Simeon Brown on the strategic report and how this will help inform work on a health needs assessment for the area,” Glyn said.

Read the full strategic report here.