Concerns Central patients at risk

A CENTRAL Otago GP says he is concerned an interim, afterhours healthcare system in Central Otago will put patients at risk.

But a statement from the Southern District Health Board says there should be no change in treatment for patients and the interim solution will be monitored closely.

Dr Greg White, of Cromwell, said he was worried patients who had to call 111 in the middle of night instead of being able to be seen by a GP might be at risk if an ambulance was not available.

He also claimed Central Otago patients would become the only ones in the country who had to pay to be seen at a public hospital.

St John OtagoSouthland acting district operations manager David Baillie said patients would pay a $98 part charge for any ambulance callout not covered by ACC.

It is understood the part charge for nonACC callouts is already in place.

Dunstan Hospital acting chief executive Debi Lawry confirmed patients assessed by a Dunstan doctor between 10pm and 8am and who were not subsequently admitted to the hospital would pay a $175 fee, as they would have previously when they saw an afterhours GP.

However, those seen by a Dunstan doctor and admitted to hospital would not pay the $175 fee; under the previous system, they would have still have paid it.

SDHB strategy, primary and community executive director Lisa Gestro said there would be no charge for patients seen after hours at Lakes District or Dunedin Hospitals.

Ms Gestro also said the SDHB was not aware of any additional ambulance callouts since the interim afterhours system began on November 1, ‘‘nor is there any reason there would be if people use the telephone triage system’’.

The interim system began after the previous Central Otago After Hours Inc (COAH) service provided by Central Otago GPs at Dunstan Hospital was cut back from a 6pm to 8am service to a 6pm10pm service. A statement from the organisation said the change was because of ‘‘financial and staffing strain’’.

Residents needing care between 10pm and 8am now either phoned 111 or used the afterhours GP telephone triaging service, which would advise them whether they should phone 111, drive to their nearest emergency department or visit their GP the following day.

Dr White said he was providing after hours healthcare for his own practice as he did not think the interim system was ‘‘good enough’’.

‘‘People keep saying it is ‘interim’ but there appears to be no timeframe for resolution.’’

The ‘‘handful’’ of patients who needed to be seen overnight were ‘‘genuinely sick, and cannot wait until morning’’.

Some might need hospital admission but most would not, he said.

The new system was a ‘‘very poor deal’’ for Central Otago.

A previous statement from COAH said its board members would not comment further on the issue, but would continue to work towards a longerterm Central Otago afterhours service.

The new system would operate until February 1, after which time it was hoped ‘‘a longerterm plan’’ would be available, the COAH statement said.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan has previously issued a ‘‘call for calm’’, saying the new model was an interim measure.

❛ People keep saying it is ‘interim’ but there appears to be no timeframe for resolution

Dr Greg White