Clutha district ratepayers may help the district's largest health body attract medical staff by providing housing close to Balclutha's hospital.
The Clutha District Council will today discuss a report about how the council could help Clutha Health First (CHF) entice locums and doctors to the town on either short or longer-term contracts.
Providing new housing around the Naish Park area, close to the Balclutha Camping Ground, has already been discussed.
A recommendation to the full council suggests a further detailed report is needed before the council can make a final decision.
In a letter to council, CHF manager Ray Anton said the hospital, which recently bought Balclutha General Practitioners Ltd, was now responsible for hiring doctors for the hospital and GPs for the practice.
It is arranging for two new doctors, who will need accommodation, to arrive later this year. Some accommodation is needed for a doctor and their family while other space is needed for short-term locums.
CHF believed the most flexible accommodation package would comprise a three-bedroom house plus an attached but independently accessed "granny flat".
In the council report, chief executive Charles Hakkaart said comfortable housing was often needed to attract medical staff to the area and it had to be within 10 minutes of the hospital.
The area near Naish Park and the camping ground is on the same street as the hospital in Balclutha.
Providing new housing there had several advantages, Mr Hakkaart said.
It was an area maintained by council, within 10 minutes of the hospital and could be let out to visitors through the camping ground operators when not used by hospital staff.
He recommended a more detailed report be compiled.
