Community shocked as Waiheke after-hours clinic closes

RNZ understands that the Piritahi Hau Ora Trust is not the only trust involved in running the clinic.

Te Whatu Ora said it had told the service that its contract was being renewed for the current financial year and would not comment on the provider’s “operational decision” to close.

Residents of Waiheke Island were blindsided by the announcement, saying they had no explanation as to why the service was closed.

Waiheke Medical Centre, Piritahi Hau Ora Clinic (both owned by The Piritahi Hau Ora Trust) and Ostend Medical Center have told patients their options after hours are tele-healthcare, Healthline, or call 111 if they have severe symptoms.

They say they are working quickly to consider long-term options for providing emergency services to the community.

Ostend Medical Center told patients that Hato Hone St John will continue to provide services, but urged people to work together to protect the ambulance service from being overwhelmed at this time.

Jessica Culpan – who has lived in Waiheke for 14 years – said many people in the community felt uneasy about the change.

He said: “I know a lot of people are worried, and some of them are very scared, there are a lot of new families on the island.

Culpan said he used to use the after-hours service for himself, his children and his mother, who suffered a broken arm on Friday.

He wanted to know what caused the closure.

“I am very confused, there is a lack of truth about what is happening. I understand that people are trying hard to fix it, but we don’t know anything, we haven’t heard anything yet,” he said.

Culpan said his mother, who is in her 70s, might consider moving to the island, and some older people might.

Rob Kay – a former GP in Waiheke and now a GP – said he was concerned other patients could be put at risk.

He said that in the past, people who needed care after working hours could call the number, be checked over the phone, and then see a doctor when they were called to the clinic.

Kay said individual checks can only be done by ambulance crews, whose equipment has been stretched thin.

He predicted there would be more transfers to hospitals on the mainland, by helicopter, or perhaps by police or coast guard boats – but access would be limited and dependent on the weather.

Kay says some conditions will be difficult to diagnose over the phone and could have negative consequences for patients.

“Abdominal pain in an elderly patient, or an appendix in a young patient, who did not receive the necessary examination, and it is a difficult judgment in that – if you miss a painful stomach, the consequences of that are not the same. it’s very good … you can end up with a twisted stomach, a flat stomach.”

Kay said families with young children could also be among those most affected.

“Children are at risk of injuries and infections, and asthma attacks, and that’s a big part of after-hours work.”

He said there have been many accidents on Waiheke Island, especially during Christmas when there can be tens of thousands of visitors.

He wasn’t sure how the ambulances would cope with the increased demand without an urgent care service.

Te Whatu Ora said it was working quickly to consider long-term options for the Waiheke community.

St John Ambulance has been approached for comment.

– RNZ