Intus Specialist Health Care has been approved to provide public services in their Queenstown and Wānaka clinics, reducing the number of patients needing to travel to Invercargill or Dunedin for procedures.
The first procedures took place last week in Queenstown and Wānaka.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora southern group director of operations Craig Ashton said they have statements of work for 50 publicly funded colonoscopies in each of Queenstown and Wānaka’s Intus clinics through to June 2026.
‘‘Planning is under way for 2026-27 to ensure we continue to meet the demand in the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes areas and reduce patient wait lists.
‘‘This may include an increase on the number of procedures done at Dunstan Hospital and/or outsourcing of some colonoscopy procedures to private providers.
‘‘Our aim is for all colonoscopies to be completed within the recommended timeframe,’’ he said.
Health Action Wānaka, a community-led advocacy group, welcomed the news.
‘‘We are pleased that more publicly funded services are coming to the Upper Clutha community.
‘‘Currently, two of the biggest barriers to people accessing the healthcare they need, when they need it, are cost and travel.
‘‘Providing services closer to home should improve access for our community.’’
Intus director and surgeon Dr Richard Perry said the team was delighted to expand access to these key services.
‘‘We find polyps in more than half of people undergoing colonoscopy.
‘‘While many of these are harmless, nearly all bowel cancers begin as polyps so finding and removing them at colonoscopy is the key to preventing bowel cancer,’’ he said.
Dr Perry said early detection could make the difference between a cancer that was easily treated and one that became life-threatening.
‘‘Being able to offer colonoscopy locally means people can be seen sooner, which ultimately saves lives and misery.’’
