Arthritis specialist starts later than expected

Palmerston North Hospital will have to call on a neighbouring region to help treat its arthritis patients.

A new rheumatologist was expected to start in February, after its two specialists retired and resigned, respectively, last year.

However, the new doctor will now not start until May, meaning the hospital will have to call on Hawke’s Bay for support.

That has prompted Arthritis New Zealand to say the condition is not prioritised in the health system.

Arthritis NZ chief executive Sandra Kirby said the specialist shortage was a ‘‘pretty well documented reality’’.

‘‘We have been concerned for many years about a shortage of rheumatologists in New Zealand.

‘‘It has been an issue for more than a decade. It is not a new phenomenon.’’

Kirby said arthritis was not viewed as a priority in the New Zealand health system, despite 620,000 people living with the condition. ‘‘Manawatu has been well served [in the past], so this is disappointing.’’

She expected patients would still get a good service from the Hawke’s Bay staff.

Midcentral DHB clinical services and transformation general manager Mike Grant said the new rheumatologist was relocating to New Zealand from the United Kingdom. ‘‘Originally, the doctor was scheduled to begin earlier in 2017, however, the relocation process has taken longer than envisaged.’’

‘‘In the interim, a rheumatologist based in the Hawke’s Bay will provide followup clinics at Midcentral Health, as well as seeing urgent patients referred to the service. Support for inpatient management will also be available to senior medical officers, ensuring continuity of the rheumatology service for all patients requiring this care.’’