Wairarapa DHB will always meet the acute needs of any patient presenting to Wairarapa Hospital. However the delivery of planned care, where patients join a wait list for treatment, needs to be considered from a clinical and patient experience perspective.
It is important not to have Eketahuna patients disadvantaged by excessive waiting times.
What cannot be provided for Eketahuna patients in Wairarapa at this time
·Orthopaedic and gastroenterology services are not currently being offered to Eketahuna patients at Wairarapa Hospital.
Neither service is functioning adequately due to a chronic workforce shortage. Wairarapa patients’ needs are being met out of region, with the support of Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs. Eketahuna patients are best served by MidCentral DHB for these services.
What Wairarapa DHB can currently provide to Eketahuna patients
·Any acute care
·Any planned care that has already been accepted at Wairarapa DHB
·Any planned care for services, other than orthopaedic and gastroenterology
Our position on providing care for Eketahuna is under continual review and, as soon as the orthopaedic and gastroenterology services are functional and able, we will reconsider our approach. We are working extremely hard on recruitment to enable this to happen.
In the meantime, MidCentral and Wairarapa DHBs are working together to identify opportunities for supporting local services.
If you have any questions/concerns, email us at : communications@wairarapa.dhb.org.nz
