Understaffed medical clinic closes doors for six weeks
“And if it’s stressed in Nelson, one of the best places to be, it’s a stressed environment across New Zealand.”
Sara Shaughnessy
“Major staff shortages” have forced the temporary closure of a Nelson medical clinic.
On Thursday, Toi Toi Medical centre sent a text message to its patients. “Due to major staff shortages we have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily close our Stoke clinic.”
The clinic on Main Rd Stoke opened in 2020, a satellite centre catering to the evergrowing number of patients signing up to the medical centre’s original Washington Valley practice.
The closure would take place from February 5, and would last about six weeks, the message said.
Nelson Bays Primary Health Trust chief executive Sara Shaughnessy said general medical practices are “under significant stress”.
“And if it’s stressed in Nelson, one of the best places to be, it’s a stressed environment across New Zealand.”
Medical practices were reporting a steep increase in patient needs, she said.
“They are very, very busy. They’re offering more and more appointments to try and accommodate that ageing workforce, workforce fatigue and issues around funding arrangements.
“It’s a stressful environment to be. The stresses and pressures are such that for many, they’re struggling to do what’s expected of them.”
In November, the Nelson Mail reported a shortfall of at least 10 GPs across the region, with only six practices accepting new patients.
However, these issues were not confined to general practice, with similar stresses and staffing issues echoed across the industry, Shaughnessy said.
Nurses, midwives and other primary healthcare professionals were also in short supply, with existing staff struggling to meet the demand of a growing population.
The Stoke clinic would remain closed while more staff were recruited, Shaughnessy said. In the meantime, the main practice, Toi Toi Medical on Natalie St, was still fully operational.
The “well-respected practice” had a good reputation, particularly in its ability to cater to Nelson’s former refugee and migrant population, she said.