Residents of Auckland's Waiheke Island are anxious after being informed their only after-hours medical clinic would cease after-hours and weekend care.
The Waiheke Oranga Urgent After-Hours clinic, operating out of the Waiheke Medical Clinic, helped provide care to the island's almost 9500 residents. It was the only one providing after-hours care.
In an email on Friday, patients were told there would be no longer be a doctor available on weekends or after 5pm on weekdays.
"We know this news may come as a shock to you, but please be assured that we have a short-term solution in place and are urgently working through various options for longer-term solutions with Health NZ Te Whatu Ora," the email read.
The email said patients could still call for an ambulance through St John, while anyone requiring hospital-level care could be transported to the mainland via helicopter or boat. It also said telehealth services were still available.
Waiheke Local Board chair Cath Handley said the news came as a "real shock" and was "very disappointing".
"Because we didn't have an after-hours service until a few years ago, and I know everyone's greatly relieved that we've got one."
She said that while there were other options for receiving care, "we are reliant on emergency services".
"The fastest way to get [to the mainland] is by helicopter, but you never want to be ill enough or be in a situation where you need to go by helicopter.
"We always have the super emergency services, but we don't have the interim services when you don't know how ill you are."
Handley expected the whole island would be affected by the clinic's reduced hours.
"Our numbers sit at around 9500, but we always have overnight visitors, so there's always another number on top of that, and at peak season, there might be 35,000 to 40,000 people here.
"So, it's a significant population to operate without an after-hours service."
She was also worried about what it might mean for the St John service.
"Because if they're caught up with an emergency, and they're not available anyway, that does mean more callouts for them."
Handley said there were "anxieties" on the island, especially among those with chronic health issues.
In a statement, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora northern regional deputy chief executive Mark Shepard said the government agency had informed the clinic that its contract was being renewed for next year (2024/2025).
"This was in addition to the normal funding provided by Health New Zealand for general practice services."
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