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Joanne Carroll / Things
Canterbury DHB neurologists will not travel to Greymouth for a year to conduct clinics.
Neurology clinics have been canceled for the foreseeable future on the west coast and patients must traverse the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Until recently, neurologists from the Canterbury DHB traveled to Greymouth four times a year to conduct clinics.
But that is no longer the case.
West Coast DHB General Manager Phil Wheble said the national shortage of neurologists had made it difficult to fill openings in Christchurch and that specialists were focusing on urgent cases.
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Until that changed, they would no longer travel to the coast or to Nelson.
“The shortage of neurologists means that they have had to prioritize the care of hospitalized patients with acute discomfort and until they have hired more consultants, staff will not travel to provide remote clinics.”
All West Coast patients were offered new and follow-up appointments in Canterbury or via telehealth as needed, Wheble said.
“Currently, the West Coast DHB has only one new patient who has not booked an appointment.”
All patients who needed follow-up appointments were being coordinated directly by the Canterbury DHB, he said.
STUFF
Some patients at the new Greymouth Integrated Health Center have been surprised to be charged GP fees when they thought they were being treated in the emergency department.
Canterbury liaison officer for the New Zealand Brain Injury Association Sue Kelly said there were long wait times for neurologist appointments.
“People with major problems are waiting for services and many of them need a report from a neurologist before accessing ACC or other help,” Kelly said.
“Many providers need that before they can implement the services. So many people are waiting a long time when they should get help coping or recovering. “
The situation would be worse for people outside of Christchurch in places like the West Coast, he said.
“If you have a brain injury or other neurological condition, fatigue is a big problem and it is much more difficult to deal with having to travel and be in an unfamiliar city; it can actually exacerbate a brain injury having to negotiate that. “
It was also difficult for the patients’ families as they tried to support them without the services they needed, Kelly said.
Patients who must travel to attend medical appointments with specialists have the right to claim travel and accommodation expenses from the national travel assistance plan of the Ministry of Health.
The West Coast DHB reported last month that claims were up 18 percent from budget, an increase it attributed to more people claiming their rights, rather than more patients having to travel.
