Plans for new clinics welcomed by contractors

Vineyard workers are regularly using the after-hours clinic in Blenheim because they cannot get an appointment at a general practice, a labour contractor says.

Focus Labour Solutions owner Craig Mill said he was having to make weekly trips to the urgent night-time and weekend clinic to seek treatment for his staff.

All Marlborough general practices except one have closed their books to new patients.

The Marlborough Primary Health Organisation has mooted plans for a new practice and daytime urgent care centre to ease the strain on stretched GP clinics.

‘‘It’s dire really because we haven’t got enough doctors,’’ Mill said.

The Marlborough Labour Market Survey, based on interviews with wine companies and labour contractors, found almost 2000 more workers would be needed by the 2019/20 season.

Marlborough Primary Health Organisation chief executive Beth Tester said the predicted increase in wine industry workers factored into the decision-making around the new general practice and daytime urgent care centre.

Provine director Ken Prouting said it could be difficult for all groups, including Recognised Seasonal Employer workers, to secure dentist and medical appointments in Marlborough.

Prouting said there was a responsibility to provide adequate healthcare for workers coming into the region.

‘‘We’re inviting these people into our community so the community does need to have the services in place to look after them.

‘‘The medical services do a wonderful job with the resources they’ve got but there is that high demand and it’s going to get higher.’’

Vine First owner Kathy Jackson said she had a good relationship with a Blenheim general practice that had provided healthcare for her workers for the past four years. While Jackson said she did not have difficulties getting medical appointments for her workers, she supported establishing a new GP in Blenheim.

‘‘I think it’s a fantastic idea and not just for RSE workers.

‘‘There have been problems in the past with people moving to the region and not getting a doctor.

‘‘I think it’s a good thing for everyone in the community.’’

The business case for the daytime urgent care centre and new general practice would be put forward at the Marlborough Primary Health Organisation’s next board meeting in August.

A daytime urgent care centre would provide a similar level of care to that provided by the Marlborough Urgent GP After-Hours Service, but it would be open between the hours of 8am and 6pm on weekdays.

Tester said proposed urgent care centre and new general prac- tice could possibly be located on the same site. Tester said an urgent care centre would ease pressure on the emergency department and on general practices tasked with treating visitors to the region who were not enrolled with a Marlborough doctor.

At present people who were not enrolled with a general practice were directed to one of five general practices who were on an acute care roster.

As part of separate discussions, the Marlborough Primary Health Organisation was investigating the possibility of an existing general practice moving to the Marlborough Community Health Hub.

The move would allow the practice to take on more patients.