Wānaka’s overnight after hours GP care has been cut, with a clinician now only available up until 11pm each night.

The decision to reduce the after hours care was announced this week in a joint statement from both Wānaka GP practices (Aspiring Medical Centre and Wānaka Medical Centre), Te Whatu Ora Southern, and the WellSouth Primary Health Network.

Instead of overnight GP availability to support patients requiring urgent medical treatment, a clinician will only be available between 6pm and 11pm.

After 11pm, patients who need to be seen by a clinician will be directed by Healthline to the Lakes District Hospital emergency department in Queenstown or Dunstan Hospital in Clyde.

The changes mean a minimum of an hour’s drive for Wanaka residents to receive after hours care.

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic

Aspiring Medical practice manager Caroline Stark told the Wānaka App in June 2020 that the impact of the pandemic was being felt across the after hours service, which relied heavily on income from the visitor population to bridge the gap in the funding level of the service. 

“As a result, the viability of the service in its current form may have to change in the near future unless additional funding can be secured,” she said.

Read more: Medical centres feel impact of pandemic

However, Wānaka Medical Centre general manager Michael James said the practice directors were “determined to ensure Wānaka Medical continues to provide the same trusted and professional care to our community as it always has”. 

The Wānaka Lakes Health Centre houses the two GP practices. PHOTO: Wānaka App

This week the health groups’ joint statement said the cuts were due to “ongoing recruitment issues and the impact of Covid-19 on clinical resources, of whom many also provide daytime medical services”.

The statement said the changes were developed in collaboration with WellSouth Primary Health Network, Te Whatu Ora Southern, St John Ambulance service and both Queenstown Lakes and Dunstan Hospitals.

The two practices have provided after-hours medical services to the community for many years.

Concerns about after hours care

There have been rumours about possible reductions in after hours care since at least 2018, when Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean said Central Otago GPs were no longer able to sustain the workloads required. Despite the rumours, Wānaka continued to provide care, although concerns have arisen at times.

Luggate woman Tracy Morrow told the Wānaka App last year she was “disappointed and upset” not to be able to access after hours care in Wānaka for her son after being told there was no doctor available.

“I was told there was no doctor on duty that night. When I questioned that a couple of times I was told emphatically ‘I’m sorry, we normally do, but there’s no one available today’.”

On another occasion the family was charged $250 for an after hours call out.

Tracy said she had lived in this area for 14 years and had had to call after hours a few times.

“Two years ago we had amazing service and real empathy, but I have to say the experience in the past three months has left me thinking… I know all of those people do their jobs and they do it well, so I can only assume that our system here locally is in absolute crisis,” she said.

Current after hours service

After hours calls (from 6pm) will continue to be triaged by a nurse-led service, accessed by calling the practices’ main number or HealthLine on 0800 611 116.  

“Calls will be answered 24/7 and free health advice is available around the clock. If you need to be seen Healthline will tell you what to do and where to go,” the health groups’ joint statement said.

The Wānaka App asked the groups whether the new arrangement would be monitored. 

“Patient safety is our paramount concern in providing consistent and sustainable after hours medical care to communities in the Upper Clutha,” they responded. 

“This new arrangement is intended as an interim solution that balances the challenges of living in a rural location and the current scarcity of healthcare resources across the health system.” 

The groups said they were “committed to working together to find a safe, sustainable, long-term after hours solution for the region”.

“We have always monitored the use of after hours services and will continue to do so. Over the past six months, the majority of after hours calls are made before 11pm and this is where we have concentrated our scarce clinician resources to provide a consistent service.”

There is no change to the Wānaka practices’ normal daytime hours, including weekends.

St John emergency ambulance services will still be available on a 24-hour roster as will access to a dedicated emergency helicopter service if needed.