Publicly-funded endoscopy procedures, including colonoscopies, are being offered in Queenstown and Wānaka for the first time.
Intus Specialist Health Care, which has been providing endoscopy, especially colonoscopy, and gastroscopy in Queenstown since 1998, was recently awarded a contract with Health New Zealand.
‘‘We’re quite excited we’ve got the contract with Health NZ to be able to extend those services to people who are not privately insured,’’ Intus director/surgeon Dr Richard Perry says.
‘‘People assume Queenstown/ Wānaka is a wealthy area, but there are a lot of people there who cannot afford private insurance and private healthcare so it’s nice to be able to offer that to them.’’
Perry says faster local access will lead to better outcomes for Queens-town/Wānaka residents, such as early detection and prevention of bowel cancer.
‘‘Being able to offer colonoscopy locally means people can be seen sooner, which ultimately saves lives and misery.’’
Intus sees patients at Queenstown Medical Centre’s Isle St clinic, where it has equipment permanently installed.
