After-hours service in 2017

After hours services should be in place in the North Canterbury later this year.

The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has begun work to expand the after-hours provision of health services in the Waimakariri.

‘‘A group has convened and planning has begun to develop a sustainable and appropriate afterhours service,’’ CDHB planning and funding general manager Carolyn Gullery said.

‘‘This work will be led by a community-led service development group supported by the Canterbury Clinical Network Urgent Care Service Level Alliance, which is leading transformation across the Canterbury Health System so that people have access to the best possible health care, at the right place and the right time.’’

The next step in the process will be community engagement through a number of public meetings.

‘‘Our initial focus will be on the development of the most appropriate and sustainable model of care for this community. Once determined, the funding and operational requirements will become apparent.’’

The CDHB has reduced the rate of patients attending ED since 2009 but Waimakariri, with its rapid population growth, has not kept up with the decrease.

After-hours services in the district changed in 2010, with a CDHB and St John deal struck to have a paramedic service in the area and GPs no longer contributing to a local after-hours roster.

The Rangiora Health Hub, which opened in 2015, looms as the potential solution, as well as the use of tele-health linking to Christchurch Hospital specialists.

The CDHB announced the plans in December with an initial target date of April. Providing adequate after-hours service is a priority but not a process the CDHB will rush.

‘‘While having a new model and a trial of the service in place prior to winter would be great, the timing will ultimately depend on how the model development progresses.

‘‘We want to ensure that we develop a model that is sustainable and appropriate for the region.’’

Earlier this month it was confirmed the Rangiora Health Hub will host the mobile surgical bus, offering a range of surgery from orthopaedic procedures to hernia repairs.

It’s a start towards better health care services but for now after hours will continue with the status quo – a phone call to a patients GP, which is answered by a registered nurse, who will , if required, refer a patient to the Pegasus Health 24 Hour Surgery on Bealey Avenue.