Urgent care Reduction Sparks Concern

Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Center, a key after-hours medical service in Dunedin, New Zealand, has announced a reduction in it’s operating hours. Effective instantly,the centre will close an hour earlier,operating from 8 a.m. too 9 p.m. instead of its previous 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. schedule. The decision stems from notable resource constraints,mirroring challenges faced across the broader healthcare system.

Adam O’Byrne, general manager of Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre, described the situation as a sign of the times. He elaborated,We’re facing the same staff pressures as the rest of the health system. It’s a difficult environment to be in and we’re not immune to that down here in Dunedin.

GP Warns of Emergency Department Overload

the reduced hours have prompted warnings from local physicians about a potential increase in patient visits to the Dunedin Hospital emergency department. dr.Adrian Hindes, a Dunedin city GP, voiced his concerns, predicting a wave of presentations to the emergency department if the situation is not carefully managed.

Dr. Hindes emphasized the critical role of the Urgent doctors & Accident Centre in providing timely care for conditions requiring X-rays or fracture management. He stated,More people will need to go to the emergency department if they need an X-ray or if they need a fracture managed.

Official Response and Mitigation Efforts

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, the national health authority, has acknowledged the change but does not anticipate significant additional strain on the emergency department. Aroha Metcalf, community integration manager for Health New Zealand Te Waipounamu, stated in a release that the agency had been notified of the change. We want to reassure the community that we do not anticipate pressure on Dunedin Hospital’s ED to increase as a result.

Though, in response to the concerns, Health new Zealand Te Whatu Ora has convened a meeting in dunedin to assess the situation and explore potential solutions.The agency also stated that on average between two and three patients presented to the Urgent Doctors between 9 and 10pm, which is the hour the urgent care service won’t be provided.

Mr.O’Byrne acknowledged the potential impact, stating, While our presentations late at night beyond 9pm are generally lower, we understand that there may be some small impact on the community and therefore on ED. This is something we are well aware of and wish to avoid at all costs.

To mitigate the impact of reduced hours, the Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre plans to increase staffing during daytime hours to address potential backlogs. To address some of the likely backlog,they would be increasing staffing arrangements during the day, according to Mr. O’Byrne.

The center is also adjusting after-hours shifts fulfilled by guild members (GP practices that contribute to the center’s roster) to provide more support during peak periods. This adjustment aims to balance workload and ensure GPs and nurse practitioners can return home earlier after working all day.

Uncertainty and Future Plans

The duration of the reduced operating hours remains uncertain. Mr.O’Byrne stated that the center is constantly reviewing patient presentations and the demand on the health system and is working collaboratively with WellSouth, Health New Zealand, and the Guild to restore patient access to after-hours care. He added, this a daily priority for us, and we are working collaboratively with WellSouth, Health New Zealand and the Guild on a way forward so we can restore patient access to after-hours care as to what it was before.

Dr. Hindes expressed a desire for more concrete assurances, noting, They’re saying they’re hoping it’s just going to be a temporary change, but they don’t seem to have any sort of plan in place where they’re going to roll things back to normal.

A workshop involving dunedin primary, after-hours, and urgent care providers, as well as Dunedin emergency department leaders and ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation), has been scheduled for May 21. The workshop aims to understand the after-hours and urgent care context in Dunedin and identify components of a enduring 24/7 model of service delivery. A second workshop will take place on June 11 if required.