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March, 2022 Despite closed borders and many of Queenstowns migrant populationhaving had to return home during the past 18 months theres big demand for Queenstown Medical Centres new Jacks Point practice opening soon. Queenstown Medical Centre chief executive Ashley Light says in a very tough labour climate right now theyve managed to attract some quality new doctors with two long-term GPs leaving the practice. Dr Tonya Cruickshank, whose popular specialist allergy clinic has a waitlist of patients, is bowing out after more than 20 years of service. However, fortunately the allergy clinic will continue, he says. Tonya will be doing contract work for the centre, similar to long-time GP and centre director Dr Richard Macharg, who resigned last year. He will be contracted to do some speciality clinics this year. But Ashley says the community is in good hands in that regard with the arrival of Dr Euan Speirits, who has a background as an orthopaedic registrar. Euan will head up the centres Isle Street fracture clinic and work in urgent care. He most recently hails from Rotorua where he is the medical director for Crankworx, the multi-stop mountain bike festival. Hes been working with top mountain bikers on performance and treating injuries and will be bringing these skills to Queenstown. Auckland GP Dr Coran Turner is moving to Queenstown to join the centre team, as well. Were also talking to a couple of other new GPs, says Ashley. Dr Katelyn Costello is taking a temporary break from QMC from this month (March) as she begins maternity leave, but will possibly return for one GP session a week in July or August. Theres still plenty of demand for medical centre services with a big uptake in the number of people accessing mental health support through the centres HIA (Health Improvement Professional), as well as the centre health coach. Were lucky to have these two floating between our three centres Isle Street, Remarkables Park and Arrowtown, and, once it opens, Jacks Point. Its a government response to funding primary health care needs in the wake of the Covid crisis and Ashley says these two staff have been very, very busy with the effects of the past two years. Its a free service to any enrolled patients. The new Jacks Point centre has been planned for some time and will open sometime in April with a few delays imposed due to uncertainties around Covid restrictions. Three GPs will be based there, along with nurses and a healthcare assistant, all operating out of the new centres seven consulting rooms. We always try to keep ahead of the population growth here and people are keen to see a doctor when they need one, and closer to home, especially with parking challenges in downtown Queenstown, says Ashley. Fuel prices are rising and its not so easy for people to access the other centres with huge population growth continuing in the Jacks Point, Hanleys Farm areas, as well as the new Homestead Bay development now underway. Planned hotels and commercial, as well as residential, development, meant the centre needed a presence on the ground out there. Everything beyond the Kawarau Bridge, Hanleys Farm, Double Cone, is back filling, says Ashley. Were seeing growth in enrolments. Certainly there are less people here for tourism, but I dont think theres been a huge departure of locals, says Ashley. Were seeing a lot more people moving down here from the North Island in the past year or so, especially people escaping lockdowns in Auckland. He says government visa changes have also allowed many people to stay on and some are now seeking residency. Due to the Covid situation people are now much more aware of their health and want to see doctors and nurses. Managing Covid-19 has been the biggest challenge for general practices all over the country, especially with staff shortages everywhere. Definitely the primary care network (general practice) in New Zealand is under pressure, but thankfully we seem to be doing okay at Queenstown Medical Centre, he says. People are more aware of managing their mental health and wellbeing, and making sure their tamariki have their regular childhood immunisations. The original Queenstown Medical Centre in downtown Queenstown opened in 1970. The centre now has 22 doctors and about 19 nurses, plus support staff, scattered throughout its practices. Source: Lakes Weekly News
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