Push for private / public health services
Private hospitals, clinics and investors can help bridge the gap for Queenstown's under-pressure public health services, according to a new strategic report.
The report is the product of a steering group headed by MPs Joseph Mooney, Miles Anderson and Todd Stephenson, and local mayors Glyn Lewers and Tamah Alley.
It recommends harnessing the growth of the private health sector, collaborating with projects that are already in the pipeline, to help address the growing pains of two of the country's fastest-growing districts - Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.
It has been delivered to Minister of Health Simeon Brown for consideration, with the aim to have a business plan by the end of the year.
“The key driver behind this project is concern about the healthcare needs of our region as more and more people are living here," Queenstown's MP Joseph Mooney says.
"Otago Central Lakes current peak day population of 168,000 residents and visitors is expected to almost double to 302,000 by 2054."
Although considered separate health areas with different base hospitals (Dunedin and Invercargill), the two districts share the same health challenges because of their remote geography, limited access to public health facilities, aging population, rapid and continual population growth and large influxes of visitors.
While the Dunedin hospital rebuild project is going ahead, funding for new public health facilities further afield, such as a long-sought Queenstown Lakes base hospital, is not in any Central Government planning.
The steering group involved Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora, both local Territorial Authorities, rural health providers and iwi, including Kaupapa Maōri health providers.
Over 12 months, the group consulted with 20 private health providers open to connecting with and contributing services and facilities to the broader health system.
It also spoke over 20 health professionals concerned about the lack of coordinated resources and the need for a long-term strategic plan to meet ongoing demand and anticipated growth.
However, the report warns that the window of opportunity to influence private-sector planning will close.
ACT MP Todd Stephenson says the group is not asking for public capital but wants further discussions with Minister Brown about opportunities, while MP for Waitaki Miles Anderson points out the two regions are no longer remote rural areas.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Lewers says 70% of the people in New Zealand who live more than two hours from a base hospital live in Otago Central Lakes.
"That often means 2-4 hour road trips for appointments and non-urgent treatments, helicopter flights when things are urgent, and risk to life when those flights are delayed," he says. "As a community, we need a long-term solution - we’re simply growing so fast."
And Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley says the community needs action now to ensure a balanced health response in Otago Central Lakes.
“While we welcome more investment in medical care for our district, we need a unified approach to ensure we have well-connected health facilities across our combined region that will support and enhance our existing overstretched health services,” Alley says.
