Westport’s acute services still reduced — ongoing ‘staffing issues’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Westport's acute care services at Buller Health are still on a reduced basis due to "ongoing staffing issues".

The round-the-clock service has been run on a reduced basis since early August after Health NZ West Coast announced a temporary reduction in hours due to staff leave and winter illness.

Early last month, in response to criticism and confusion about what Westport residents were supposed to do in an emergency, Health NZ West Coast said it planned to have its acute service back up and running again 24/7 from Monday.

However, in a statement this week it said urgent patient stabilisation and observation services provided by Buller Health's Foote Ward team "will continue to temporarily be provided at a reduced capacity".

"If you or a member of your whānau needs emergency or acute care these services are still available 24/7 - they are just being provided in a different way," director of nursing Holly Mason said.

" Unfortunately, we need to continue operating in a reduced capacity due to on-going staffing pressures," Mason said.

For the time being, the temporary services would continue to be provided between 7am and 11pm at Foote Ward. This included urgent patient stabilisation and observation services.

"Outside of these hours, all acute care will be managed in the same way as rural services provided by St John who will be supported by a PRIME trained clinician. Anyone needing admission will be transferred to Greymouth's Te Nīkau Hospital."

Mason said they appreciated that the ongoing reduction "is not ideal".

"We really value the Buller community's ongoing understanding and support of this situation."

The rationed service at Westport had been introduced "so that urgent acute care as well as routine primary care" could be maintained in the community.

Mason said the staffing pressures were not unique to the region and Health NZ West Coast was working hard to fill staff shortages across the West Coast.

This included a global campaign for nurses to work in New Zealand alongside local recruitment.

Meantime, it was "critical" those who had been injured or were experiencing severe symptoms should dial 111.

Last month Health NZ justified the level of cover at Buller Health in a rural generalist model, including doctors and nurse practitioners, as providing a higher level of service than had been seen previously at Westport.

The approach was to use a variety of practice skills across complimentary areas but by far, the majority of Westport service demand was at a GP level, Health NZ West Coast manager Philip Wheble said.

Buller Health has 4.73 FTE doctors overall, and 1.93 FTE nurse practitioners who also provide services to Karamea, Ngakawau and Reefton.

They also provide cover for midweek after hours, weekends and public holiday services.

"Our rural generalist model supports a robust primary care service in both Westport and Greymouth, allowing for flexible service provision," Wheble said.

*Public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air