SDHB restricts access to GP newsletter

Access to a monthly GP newsletter has been restricted because of concerns patients could use information to obtain specialist appointments without following the correct procedure, Southern District Health Board GP liaison officer Anne Worsnop said.

The monthly newsletter included information about clinical guidelines, including how and when to refer patients for specialist appointments.

First distributed to clinicians and the media, it was posted to the SDHB's website, but from this month was put under a password, Dr Worsnop said.

She said hospital departments "are mindful that having the template for a referral to their department on the public website opens itself to an, albeit small, chance of use by someone who is looking to arrange some specialist review or investigation for themselves without this being advised by their health professional".

People seeking information about waiting times or access to various hospital departments could still obtain it, through GPs or practice nurses, Dr Worsnop said.

The monthly newsletter also contained snippets of news from the departments, reminders, and alerts to GPs on a range of matters.

- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

 

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