- Friday 12 March 2010
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Stratford GP shortage sparks medical crisis
A DRASTIC GP shortage at Stratford’s largest medical practice has sparked a crisis that has left thousands of Central Taranaki people without a regular doctor.
The Avon Medical Care Centre is calling for community understanding and calm after two new GPs have been forced to leave due to illness.
Avon had been recruiting GPs for all of 2009 and had sourced two from the USA. On arrival one became acutely unwell. He and his wife, the other GP, are returning to the USA.
The departure of the two GPs has left Avon with a GP shortage, with only Dr Brian Wood available full-time to look after 4200 patients. The international average number of patients per doctor is 1400 and the practice normally has three resident GPs.
Practice manager Karen Caskey said Dr Wood is caring for his patients plus palliative care and rest home patients. “It is not recommended that doctors have more than 2000 patients,” she said.
She said there has been some confusion and a degree of panic, especially with elderly patients, but the situation is in hand.
Peak Health Taranaki said short-term GP cover has been found and the long-term situation is being worked on at present.
Peak CEO Andrew Brock said two short-term doctors are now working at the practice, so the number of GPs is the same as before.
Avon staff stress that the nurses and doctors at Avon will seek to ensure that services remain unchanged for patients.
Patients at Avon who require medical care should continue to ring and make an appointment in the usual way.
Avon is working with Peak Health Taranaki, Taranaki District Health Board, Pinnacle, Stratford District Council and Stratford Health Trust to find long-term solutions. The practice has also received support from the Taranaki GP community, with a number of GPs helping to provide cover at Avon.
“It is a very undesirable situation that the Avon practice finds itself in and is very distressing for the staff,” said Mr Brock.
“It is an urgent priority to resolve this situation as quickly as possible and provide ongoing stability for both patients and staff.”
Brian Jeffares, chairman of the Stratford Health Trust, said the opening of the new health facility, to be built shortly to house the town’s doctors, is now more critical than ever.
The new 600 square metre Stratford Community Health Centre is to be constructed alongside the town’s health centre on Romeo St to house the majority of Stratford’s doctors and health professionals.
Mr Jeffares said the new building, which will have 10 consulting rooms, is necessary to attract GPs and encourage them to stay in the district.
Tenders for the building are out at present and construction will begin early March.
He said the building would be completed before Christmas.
