In an update from Te Hau O Te Ora, the service said it had been working hard to secure a permanent or temporary general practitioner to take the place of the Dr Elaine Munro.
With Dr Munro leaving Te Hau o Te Ora Mataura (formerly Mataura Medical Centre), Te Hau o Te Ora has been working to secure a permanent or temporary general practitioner to take her place.
Te Hau o Te Ora — established in 2021 — is a partnership between Hokonui Rūnanga, Awarua Rūnaka and WellSouth Primary Health Network. Te Hau o Te Ora acquired Mataura Medical Centre in April 2022.
WellSouth chief executive Andrew Swanson-Dobbs said a new GP would be in the Mataura practice for the next six months, as well as a primary health nurse starting soon. Practice manager Di Philpott remained a steady hand in the practice.
"We’re happy with this result, considering how challenging it can be to recruit for our rural areas. Te Hau o Te Ora Mataura, like other rural practices, is set up for continuation of care without a GP on site, but having someone at the centre is the preference for many of the centre’s patients," he said.
Mr Swanson-Dobbs said Te Hau o Te Ora Invercargill was still seeking a general practitioner to add to the clinic.
"Currently, it has a successful hybrid model of care for patients.
"Patients have the option of booking with a nurse practitioner or virtual health GP, with the support of TytoCare, an innovative technology with in-practice video appointments able to conduct comprehensive remote examinations."
The nurse practitioner was on one and a-half days per week. While the current model of care worked well, the service would like more clinicians and were recruiting for a general practitioner and another nurse practitioner, Mr Swanson-Dobbs said.
"It remains a challenge to recruit to the South, particularly in our rural areas.
"Our focus during this recruitment process has been on Te Hau o Te Ora Mataura because in Te Hau o Te Ora Invercargill the hybrid model TytoCare is set up and working well."
