The sudden resignation of three GPs from Balclutha General Practitioners Ltd in recent months has left the bulk of the workload to be carried by long-term doctors Branko Sijnja and Abraham Visagie, but that had been alleviated, practice manager Colleen Fenton said.
Wanaka-based GP Dr David Scharapow (33) began in February.
He works four days in Balclutha, returns to Central Otago for eight days and then returns to Balclutha for another four-day shift.
Dr Scharapow graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2000 and initially trained in emergency medicine but has been a GP for the past two years.
He has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
He works as a part-time doctor at the Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka during winter.
His arrival in South Otago has provided a double benefit, as his wife, Tanya, a nurse, works at Clutha Health First (CHF) when the couple spend their four days in South Otago.
Mrs Fenton said the pressure on the practice was slowly being relieved.
Long-time Balclutha GP Dr Angela Wijetunga was helping out when available and the CHF medical officer was also providing support when she was available.
An Edinburgh-based doctor, Keith Abbott, had signed a one-year contract and was due to start in Balclutha on August 24, while two other doctors from the United States will work at the practice for seven months from October.
Mrs Fenton hoped another overseas doctor would soon get clearance from the New Zealand Medical Council to work in Balclutha.
