Services struggling under second Covid-19 wave

A marae-based health service is struggling with staff shortages as a second wave of Covid-19 emerges in south Auckland.

Rising cases come as doctors warn the health system is at risk of collapse, with a nationwide GP shortage and employees calling in sick in the winter months.

Dr Matire Harwood works on the frontline at the Papakura Marae Health Clinic, which provides a drive-in GP service.

She was the only GP on site on Monday, and was called in on her day off. Harwood handled about 30 patients and worked overtime.

‘‘There are increasing numbers . . . last week they were saying there might be three a day, of people needing help with food and assistance at home,’’ she said.

‘‘Today there is something like 30 different people who phoned up the marae saying they’ve had a positive Covid result over the weekend, all family are affected, so they’re needing us to drop off some food and supplies.’’

Rising cases, coupled with staff shortages because of sickness, have made matters harder, with 50% of staff away. ‘‘We’ve had more people coming in to get tested today at our testing station, so that again, that would suggest that more people are worried about the Covid,’’ Harwood said.

‘‘And then, of course, our staff are off sick with Covid, so we only had one GP this morning, which was me, and yeah, we’re struggling from that side of things.’’

The ‘‘second wave’’ of Covid-19 is seeing people being reinfected but, despite research stating symptoms should be weaker than the symptoms from the initial infection, Harwood said it has been rough for some of the people she has seen. ‘‘Other underlying comorbidities and living conditions, and I think everyone’s probably just a bit rundown anyway. Maybe when they’ve got the flu in addition to the Covid . . . it’s hard to know,’’ Harwood said.

Harwood said she is working nine to 12-hour days and doesn’t have time to think about what the solution might be. ‘‘It would be great for people to rethink masking, because I think we’re spreading the infections around,’’ she said. ‘‘I think if you’re sick we’ve been telling people to stay at home. I think we really need to reengage people into getting their booster shots.’’

‘‘It would be great for people to rethink masking.’’ Dr Matire Harwood