The Southland District Health Board is being urged to prop up
an Invercargill community youth health service.
Southland Youth One Stop Shop, or Number 10, is urgently
seeking $200,000 from the board.
Manager Jocelyn Johnstone said without funding for the
2010-11 financial year, the service would close at the end of
April.
She said the service's two part-time nurses, who have
prescribing rights, helped a part-time GP with the 2200 young
people on the clinic's books.
The service wants the DHB to consider diverting some funds
from its Southland Hospital-based youth services to the
community clinic.
Community-based services were more in line with the
Government's push for accessible health care, Mrs Johnstone
said.
The Southern Institute of Technology declined to help with
funding.
Between 10 and 15% of the clinic's clientele attend the
Southern polytechnic.
The service was launched 18 months ago with Primary Health
Organisation funding and the support of community funders
such as the Invercargill Licensing Trust and the Community
Trust of Southland.
The matter was discussed at last week's community and public
health advisory committee, at which Otago District Health
Board chairman Errol Millar said it was vital a solution be
found, despite the current budget constraints in the public
health sector.
Difficult decisions might be needed to prioritise health
funds so the clinic could keep operating, he said.
A meeting of concerned parties will be held next Monday.
- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
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