In April, the Wānaka Sun reported people who needed either one-off or regular blood testing were hamstrung by living in Wānaka, and had to pay for the service.
With no blood-testing laboratory in Wānaka, people had to pay $19 per test, a cost which was free in most areas. The lack of the service is particularly stark given the size of the town; the population is three times that of Balclutha and twice the size of Gore, yet these towns have laboratories that provide the service at no cost.
In contrast, Wānaka residents must rely on staff at medical centres to take their blood, after waiting days for an appointment.
For many, including Nickie Overton, the situation had become a significant financial burden, particularly for those with ongoing health conditions.
Three years ago, Ms Overton was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis, an autoimmune condition that requires frequent blood tests to monitor the correct dosage of steroids.
"Sometimes I need blood tests up to once a week when my condition is unstable,’’ she said at the time.
"This is essential to keeping the disease under control. If not treated, it can lead to vision loss or a stroke," she said.
"If I lived in a place like Clyde, Queenstown, Dunedin or Invercargill, the tests would be free. It doesn’t seem fair.’’
Last year, medical centres in Wānaka recorded a combined 11,140 blood tests, indicating a significant demand for this service. However, with the nearest blood-testing centres in Clyde and Queenstown — both a two-hour round trip — many residents face additional travel costs.
Advocacy group Health Action Wānaka released a report in April outlining critical failures in the healthcare system for Upper Clutha. The report, based on interviews with 300 residents, painted a stark picture of significant unmet needs, systemic barriers and a lack of strategic planning to address the growing health demands.
According to the findings, the healthcare system in Wānaka is struggling to keep up with the needs of its population. The report also highlights that as the population is projected to grow substantially in the next 30 years, these challenges are expected to get worse unless immediate action is taken.
MP for Waitaki Miles Anderson welcomed the announcement of free blood tests being rolled out.
"Our local public health practitioners have been calling for this service, so it is great to see the government and Health NZ respond to the need in our growing community.
"People of Central Otago and Queenstown-Lakes often travel considerable distances to access public health services, so the addition of free blood testing is a great step towards bringing healthcare closer to home for our region,’’ Mr Anderson said.
