GP upset testing hopes raised

A doctor is criticising the Government for raising public expectations around coronavirus testing, while his practice is without swaps and or flu vaccines.

It comes as healthcare workers say tests are being withheld because of limited supply, despite Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern insisting clinicians have both the resources and permission to test.

Stephen Brown, clinical director at North Canterbury’s Durham Health, said in an open letter on Wednesday his more than 10,000 enrolled patients did not need ‘‘strong messages’’ from the Government and Ministry of Health telling them they ‘‘must come and see us’’ for services the clinic could not provide.

The laboratory would only give his practice a limited number of test swabs, he said, ‘‘nowhere near enough to satisfy the demand’’.

‘‘We are not testing patients who are not well and we are following all the published guidelines. We are not stockpiling them – we don’t have any.’’

People are now considered suspect cases if they have a fever and/or any acute respiratory infection with symptoms including a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. Previously, to meet the case definition, people had to have been overseas or come into contact with a confirmed or suspected case.

Priority groups now include essential workers, aged-care home residents and students in university halls.

The ministry stresses that even if probable cases are not tested, they should reduce contact with others until 48 hours after symptoms disappear and at least 10 days after symptoms first appear.

Brown said the practice had also ordered influenza vaccines, but none have arrived.

‘‘We are now spending vast amounts of time fielding phone calls from irate patients who expect us to be able to deliver this vaccine, which we cannot.’’

He asked for political leaders to ensure the systems and supplies were in place before speaking to the community.

‘‘Please give us the courtesy of preparing us for new services before you raise public expectations that we can deliver them.’’

Canterbury DHB Covid-19 incident controller Dan Coward said there were about 10,000 unused swabs in its region, and the DHB had access to more swabs from the national supply.

Canterbury Health Laboratories (where swabs are distributed from and then tested in Canterbury) had enough swabs for the amount of testing they were receiving daily, he said.

Swabs are being manufactured in New Zealand and imported from China.

A ministry spokesman said there were about 30,000 test kits in labs, with another 30,000 in the country but not yet at labs. Within the next week, there would be enough to do 80,000 to 100,000 tests, with the extra supplies coming from four global suppliers.

‘‘We are not stockpiling [tests] – we don’t have any.’’ Dr Stephen Brown