Concern about specialist dearth

There are grave concerns about a nationwide shortage of arthritis specialists effecting Manawatu.

Palmerston North Hospital will have one rheumatologist from next year, as its current two specialists retired and resigned, respectively.

Midcentral DHB says it only ever had one full-time specialist rheumatologist.

This position was supported by a ‘‘general medicine physician with a rheumatology subspecialty’’.

It is advertising the general medicine position, but says it will not necessarily recruit a specialist in rheumatology.

Arthritis New Zealand chief executive Sandra Kirby said Manawatu’s situation was symptomatic of the nationwide shortage of specialists.

‘‘Until recently Manawatu has been one of the better served areas of the country, but this does highlight how quickly a situation can change.’’

Kirby said the delay in employing new staff was worrying.

‘‘The gap between existing staff leaving and new rheumatologists arriving is of concern to people with arthritis in the region.’’

A new rheumatologist will start at Palmerston North Hospital in February.

Midcentral has not stated when the department would close for the year, for its annual summer shutdown.

The Palmerston North Arthritis Support Group understands it was from December 8.

Kirby said some arthritis patients had not been informed of the changes, but Midcentral says patients due to be seen over the shut-down period have been contacted.

Midcentral clinical services and transformation general manager Mike Grant said the general medicine physician position at the hospital had ‘‘only ever been a back up’’.