Rural GPs not keen to join Southland PHO

Rural GPs in Southland are not keen on joining a new Southland Primary Health Organisation, with some saying they hope to take their business to Otago.

The nine existing PHOs in Southland and Otago are to consolidate into two after the Southland District Health Board voted on October 8 to introduce a two-region model; the Otago board had favoured a single organisation that would have covered both provinces.

Southland rural GPs spoken to by The Southland Times were disappointed with the strategy, saying their needs were more closely linked with Central Otago health providers than those in Invercargill.

Dr Stephen Graham, a partner at the Te Anau Health Centre, said GPs' views had been "systemically ignored" and people had been led to believe doctors supported a Southland-only PHO.

"That is something we have expressly ... not supported. I can assure you there's a huge amount of upset from rural practitioners about this."

Dr Graham supported the creation of a third PHO for rural Southland and Central Otago. However, if forced to choose under the current proposal, the clinic would lean towards an Otago PHO not a Southland one, he said.

GPs will be able to do this if the Government adopts a recommendation from the Horn Report health review, released in August, which stipulates providers should choose which PHO they list with.

Queenstown Medical Centre chief executive Dr Richard Macharg said the clinic, in the Wakatipu PHO, would also align itself with Otago if able to choose in a two-province structure.

"We made it quite clear (during consultation) that a PHO which was for Southland only was not something we could support," Dr Macharg said. "We don't want to take Queenstown into a Southland, and Invercargill-dominated, model."

The only other option was Otago, which was a sensible choice because it included Wanaka and the rural hospitals at Clyde, Alexandra and the Maniototo. "All the areas we have a commonality with."

Lumsden Medical Centre director Dr Mathew Stokes said he would carefully consider his options, if a two-region model were chosen.

"I look forward to the possibility of looking at options further afield," he said. "I would like a PHO which identifies with the population of northern Southland."

Southland DHB chairman Paul Menzies said the board faced a challenge.

"I certainly would like to talk these guys directly about their concerns and how we might meet those. I know rural GPs have particular needs, particularly around clinical support."

will.hine@stl.co.nz