New doctor likely to shorten wait

Wairau Hospital waiting lists should shorten after a new doctor started work there this week.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board district manager of medical services Pat Davidsen said Wairau's general medical ward had not been fully staffed since May last year.

"Having four physician posts at Wairau and only two people filling them has put pressure on the system," he said. The two remaining physicians had focused on people with acute health problems.

At the end of July, 400 Nelson and Marlborough people were on the waiting list for a first specialist appointment in general medicine, mostly at Wairau Hospital, said Mr Davidsen.

Ninety-five of these people had waited longer than six months, compared with 14 in January.

In August, the waiting list was reduced to 272 and the number of people waiting longer than six months to 29, after a Wairau physician spent a weekend going through all referral letters.

Patients who needed to be seen at the hospital were prioritised and in other cases GPs were advised on appropriate treatment.

- The Marlborough Express