The Oranga Urgent After Hours clinic was based in the Waiheke Medical Centre, but shut down abruptly last week. Photo: Google Maps
One of the entities previously involved in running Waiheke Island's now closed after-hours clinic has announced it will be launching a new service.
Waiheke residents were told last Friday the Waiheke Oranga Urgent After Hours clinic was shutting immediately and in the future there would be no local doctor available to see people at the weekends or after 5pm on weekdays.
On Wednesday, the Waiheke Medical Centre (WMC) announced on its website that it will be opening a new after-hours service after the current clinic became insolvent.
Earlier, patients were not told why the service was closing.
RNZ understands the urgent after-hours clinic was run by multiple trusts, including the Piritahi Hau Ora Trust, which owns two clinic on the island - Waiheke Medical Centre and Piritahi Hau Ora clinic.
RNZ understands Waiheke Health Trust - which owns Ostend Medical Centre - was also involved in the operation of Oranga Urgent After Hours.
Te Whatu Ora earlier said the after-hours service's contract for Waiheke Oranga Urgent After Hours was being renewed for the current financial year and it would not comment on the provider's "operational decision" to close.
WMC said in a notice to patients on Wednesday that it would be stepping in to fill the gap in urgent care.
"The sudden closure of WOUAH (Waiheke Oranga Urgent After Hours) has placed significant pressure on Waiheke Island's healthcare services, prompting WMC to step in and ensure continuity of care for the local community.
"WMC will be privately funding this new service in the interim period to ensure that patient safety is not compromised," the notice said.
WMC said it will be meeting with Te Whatu Ora next week to discuss potential funding to support the new service.
"We are hopeful that Te Whatu Ora will provide the necessary funding to make this service sustainable in the long term. In the meantime, WMC will do everything in its power to support our community," WMC's clinic coordinator Jonathan O'Shea said.
WMC said it understands Te Whatu Ora will also be meeting with other Waiheke healthcare providers next week.
O'Shea told RNZ WMC was looking into extending opening hours for the coming weekend during this transitional period.
Te Whatu Ora northern regional deputy chief executive Mark Shepherd said they will be meeting with the parties next week to discuss the future of urgent after-hours health services on Waiheke Island.
It declined to comment on whether the funding it had previously commited to Waiheke Oranga Urgent After Hours will be re-directed to any future service.
