Helen Tathamhtatham@nzdoctor.co.nzThursday 26 January 2012, 5:03PM
New GPs arriving in Marlborough are unlikely to ease patient
waiting lists, but the region's PHO is confident it has found a
solution.
Marlborough PHO is hoping to eliminate the region's GP shortage
within four months.
Before Christmas, the Kimi Hauora Wairau (Marlborough) PHO placed a
notice on its website warning people moving to Marlborough that
practices were full.
The notice said patients may need to retain contact with their
current doctor for three to six months.
Possible solution receives support
PHO chief executive Christine Smith says the board met last night
to discuss a possible solution which received a great deal of
support.
"We take the issue very, very seriously…I don't have any intention
of having a waiting list in three to four months' time if it is
humanly possible to change that," Ms Smith says.
Further discussions are planned for the next board meeting on 22
February.
PHO helping registrars get off to a good
start
In the meantime, three new registrars are moving into the region in
the next two or three months.
Some practices are also employing new GPs but, because they are
coming into positions previously filled by locums, they are
unlikely to have an impact on waiting lists, practice managers
say.
Ms Smith says the new registrars are expected to arrive in mid
February and the PHO has bought them each a doctor's bag full of
the necessary equipment to get them off to a good start.
The region's teaching practices are Springlands Health and Scott
Street Health.
Scott Street Health practice manager Carolyn Hale says one
registrar is arriving on 20 February and staying until 29 July and
another arrives on 16 July.
However, Mrs Hale says that is unlikely to make an impact on the GP
shortage.
New GPs will not make any difference
Picton Medical Centre and Redwoodtown Doctors are both employing
new GPs from the beginning of April.
"It is going to have no impact on the number of GPs we have got
employed because the permanent GP will take over from a locum we
have had for six months," Picton Medical Centre locality manager
Brenda Bruning says.
Redwoodtown Doctors practice manager Ruth Vause says the new GP
there will also take over from a locum.
"It won't make any significant difference to the doctor shortage in
Blenheim," Mrs Vause says.
PHO discussing a 'different way of working'
Ms Smith says she is aware the new doctors coming to Blenheim are
replacing locums.
"That does leave locums available for a different way of working if
they wish," Ms Smith says.
She was not able to give further details of the possible solution
discussed by the board but was adamant the situation would change
if it could be introduced.