GP fears deaths if funding cuts go ahead
A Central Otago GP says deaths may result if Southern DHB goes ahead with proposed plans to reduce funding to Dunstan Hospital in Clyde.
Cromwell GP Greg White has written a letter to health minister Jonathan Coleman, local MP Jacqui Dean and Southern DHB outlining his concerns, after he attended a public meeting in Cromwell last month about the proposed budget cuts, the NZ Doctor magazine reports.
‘‘The stark reality I see, and what was side-stepped to a degree last evening was the fact people may die due to the proposed cuts,’’ White says in his letter.
The lack of medical transportation infrastructure and remote- ness means that even now there are delays getting people to secondary or tertiary hospitals from Central Otago, White says.
‘‘Lack of available beds, ambulances and staff will at some point, result in a death or disablement due to time delay.’’
White has worked for 15 years in Cromwell, 23km from Dunstan Hospital. He recently established his own solo practice in the town.
‘‘I have personally seen delays of over eight hours in getting patients to Dunedin directly from Central. Without a safe (ie, an appropriately resourced) waypoint at Dunstan for stabilisation of urgent cases, bad outcomes can be expected,’’ he says in his letter.
Dunstan is one of several rural hospitals in Otago and Southland bracing themselves for funding cuts that could threaten their survival as the struggling Southern DHB, searching for savings, proposes a five per cent cut to their budgets. Dunstan Hospital is run by community-owned company Central Otago Health Services.
Chairman Russell McGeorge says it is likely the hospital will have to close 25 to 50 per cent of its inpatient beds and make corresponding staff reductions.
Another Cromwell GP, Dr Pragati Gautama, has also publicly supported the hospital on its Facebook page: ‘‘Save Services at Dunstan Hospital’’.
‘‘As a mother myself, I would want the services of a dedicated team of professionals that would care for my family both in a crisis and when I need advice and health education. We need to tackle all politicians head on . . . and perhaps identify, that even now, rural healthcare in New Zealand is way below the ‘accepted standard’ in cities.’’
Wanaka GPs are also voicing concerns about proposed budget cuts to Dunstan Hospital. GP spokesman Andrew McLeod says their particular concern is about the potential loss of inpatient services, such as acute care of people with cardiac problems. GPs are concerned that they may be left caring for patients for hours while transport is arranged from Dunedin.