The Southland District Health Board is being urged to prop up an Invercargill community youth health service.
Southland Youth One Stop Shop, or Number 10, is urgently seeking $200,000 from the board.
Manager Jocelyn Johnstone said without funding for the 2010-11 financial year, the service would close at the end of April.
She said the service's two part-time nurses, who have prescribing rights, helped a part-time GP with the 2200 young people on the clinic's books.
The service wants the DHB to consider diverting some funds from its Southland Hospital-based youth services to the community clinic.
Community-based services were more in line with the Government's push for accessible health care, Mrs Johnstone said.
The Southern Institute of Technology declined to help with funding.
Between 10 and 15% of the clinic's clientele attend the Southern polytechnic.
The service was launched 18 months ago with Primary Health Organisation funding and the support of community funders such as the Invercargill Licensing Trust and the Community Trust of Southland.
The matter was discussed at last week's community and public health advisory committee, at which Otago District Health Board chairman Errol Millar said it was vital a solution be found, despite the current budget constraints in the public health sector.
Difficult decisions might be needed to prioritise health funds so the clinic could keep operating, he said.
A meeting of concerned parties will be held next Monday.
