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During the recent Auckland outbreak, 17 community clinics were opened, but that number has dropped dramatically.
There are only six community test stations still operating in Auckland, and only one for central Auckland, which is 15 minutes from the CBD in Western Springs.
But the Health Minister did not know that community clinics were being reduced.
“Closing those test sites was not something I was asked about and I clearly think there was a communication challenge there,” said Chris Hipkins.
There has been no shortage of communication challenges during the response, but Hipkins says there are no governance issues and the Ministry of Health would work through the issues with DHBs.
Perhaps the communication failure falls on the Ministry of Health. The DHB told Newshub that it works “very closely” with the ministry.
And the ministry “reviews the weekly plans” of the Auckland DHBs “to make sure we are meeting the expectations” of the test strategy.
“There has to be coherence, there has to be an approach to this, and we cannot allow this fragmentation to occur,” said Dr. Betty.
People can, of course, still get a test from their GP, as long as they can get in.
“The GPs are very busy right now. The front line medical centers are at full capacity,” said Dr. Betty.
And keeping the clinics open seven days a week would ease that burden.
