A clearer picture of how ambulance services in rural Otago and Southland are coping after-hours could emerge from a report due to be completed for the Southern Primary Health Organisation in two or three weeks.
The report, being prepared by PHO facilitator Valerie Meyer, of Queenstown, is primarily designed to identify issues with after-hours care provided by general practitioners in the two provinces.
"Burnout" among rural GPs is an area it will address.
PHO chief executive Ian Macara said yesterday he did not know what was in the report but knew there had been discussion around services available to GPs.
GPs had been asked to identify what was working well, and what their challenges, issues and "big concerns" were.
"Support mechanisms for primary health have been discussed . . . things like paramedics, St John and anybody else who can support practices."
Yesterday, Wanaka GP Dr Susie Meyer told the Otago Daily Times of her concerns about the workload of rural ambulance staff.
To ensure 24-hour ambulance cover in Wanaka, the town's two full-time St John staff are, in addition to 12-hour day shifts, remaining on call on nights when volunteers are not available.
Dr Meyer described the arrangement as a "Band-Aid".
She considered a "long-term sustainable solution" was required.
