Specialists set to relieve stress

Palmerston North Hospital has employed a new rheumatologist, bringing much-needed relief to patients suffering from chronic pain.

MidCentral District Health Board confirmed a female rheumatologist would be starting in late July.

Rheumatologists typically deal with chronic, long-term conditions, autoimmune conditions and arthritis.

The hospital lost two rheumatologists in 2016 after a long– serving specialist retired in August, and the other resigned in December to move overseas.

The almost eight month wait to fill the job has left some patients frustrated and forced others to seek treatment at other DHBs.

Scleroderma patient Catherine Thompson was ‘‘appalled’’ by the wait.

Thompson is one of a handful of patients in Manawatu with a rare condition that causes a thickening of the skin and connective tissues.

Scleroderma patients often sought help from rheumatologists, who had experience with autoimmune diseases, she said.

During the time there was no specialist in the district, some patients travelled to Wellington and one to Auckland for treatment, she said.

In a meeting on Tuesday, MidCentral chief executive Kathryn Cook admitted it taken ‘‘quite some time’’ to employ a rheumatologist.

Cook said it was challenging to recruit people with the qualifications and skills during, at times, national and international shortages.

The hospital’s workforce update report showed there were 56 fulltime equivalent vacancies.

‘‘We have less of a challenge in the nursing space and more of a challenge in the allied health and medical space for specific roles. But in saying that, our trend is worsening,’’ Cook said.

Compared nationally, however, MidCentral was ‘‘certainly not’’ one of the worst performers when it came to recruitment, she said.

Hospital services operations director Lyn Horgan said there was a nationwide and international shortage of specialist rheumatologists.

MidCentral’s rheumatology service was small, and dealt primarily with out-patients suffering arthritis, but it did also receive a small number of urgent referrals.

The arrival of the hospital’s new specialist was delayed ‘‘longer than expected’’ due to the relocation process, she said.

About 200 students congregated at Sanson School for the annual Te Kawau Gymnastics festival on Friday. All students were led through a variety of gymnastics. Activities ranged from hula hoops to ribbon exercises to beam, mat and beetle exercises. The...