Latest news with #AndrewSwanson-Dobbs
Otago Daily Times
04-08-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
After-hours service news ‘pleasing'
Adam O'Byrne. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN Dunedin could get a comprehensive 24/7 after-hours medical service by the end of the year. Health New Zealand (HNZ) is asking for expressions of interest to ensure "98% of New Zealanders can access urgent care within one hour's drive of their home". Urgent after-hours care services have come under increasing pressure in the city due to lack of resources — recently Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre (Dudac) reduced its operating hours from 8am-10pm to 8am-9pm. Dudac general manager Dr Adam O'Byrne said yesterday's news was "very pleasing". HNZ had already flagged it was interested in improving after-hours care in Dunedin, he said. Dudac would apply for the tender to help run these services, he said. "Obviously we're prepared for it because Health New Zealand have been talking to all stakeholders ... We're encouraged by that and we'll be putting our best foot forward, that's for sure." Southern primary healthcare network WellSouth chief executive Andrew Swanson-Dobbs said yesterday was a "great day" because of the news. "[Health Minister Simeon] Brown made indications that he would like to see some regions have 24/7, and Dunedin is one of those regions that needs 24/7 care. Andrew Swanson-Dobbs. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON "We've been involved with the local guild on maintaining services in Dunedin, but the necessity to actually respond to this tender has given us an opportunity to figure out how best to deliver that care," he said. It was good the expectation had been set, Mr Swanson-Dobbs said. "The issue will be making sure that there is sufficient workforce and sufficient coin to be able to recompense primary care staff to be able to work these hours." In May, Mr Brown announced Dunedin would be a pilot for a new comprehensive model of after-hours care, and the service would start "late 2025". HNZ's tender document said it was expected these services would prevent health conditions from worsening after hours to the point where admission to hospital was required. "Health NZ encourages respondents to consider collaborative ways of working with partners to ensure high-quality, seamless care for users." Submissions on the tender close at the end of the week, and the preferred party will be publicly announced at the end of this month. HNZ expected the successful provider to work with primary and community care providers including general practices, aged care and emergency departments, the tender document said. The provider would also work with HNZ and the ACC "to move to more consistent funding models including fees, subsidies and patient co-payments". The contract would run from December 2025 to July 2027.
Otago Daily Times
29-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Funding error threatens viability of health centre
The Roxburgh Medical Centre is facing another crisis with revelations funding has been paid to the practice in error for nearly 10 years. Alexandra-based HealthCentral, which owns the Roxburgh Medical Centre, said in a statement yesterday afternoon the viability of the Roxburgh practice was at risk due to WellSouth PHO withdrawing $130,000 — or 85% — of the practice's rural funding allocation. WellSouth chief executive Andrew Swanson-Dobbs said they had been mistakenly paying more than $130,000 a year in rural funding to the medical centre since 2015. WellSouth chief financial officer Mistelle Jack said a review of the Roxburgh rural contract found the "historic arrangement" should no longer have been in place. The decrease in funding was a 54% decrease on the previous year, Ms Jack said. Funds removed from Roxburgh were returned to the pool for all rural practices. Rural funding models were outdated and Mr Swanson-Dobbs had been part of government negotiations to increase patient subsidies to general practices, she said. HealthCentral general manger Jenaya Smith said they were blindsided by the announcement and had no prior indication any of the funding was temporary or at risk. "It was not itemised in our contracts, remittances, or any communications." The funding cut was initially scheduled to take effect this month. Temporary support secured by WellSouth from Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora had deferred the impact until January but HealthCentral warned the delay offered only limited relief. "This unexpected funding withdrawal once again places the long-term viability of the practice at risk. Sudden changes in funding allocation or eligibility criteria by WellSouth creates instability for providers. Primary care practices rely on consistent, sustainable funding to operate, plan ahead and recruit." HealthCentral bought the Roxburgh practice in December 2022 and the Roxburgh Medical Trust retained ownership of the building. The trust had battled to attract and retain doctors at the practice for several years before HealthCentral stepped in. Ms Smith said the previous owners of the Roxburgh practice did not recall any part of the rural funding being temporary. While HealthCentral bought the Roxburgh practice to ensure the continuity of local health services, it might have negotiated different terms or adjusted the level of services it committed to delivering if it had been aware the funding was temporary, she said. The fee structure was under review at the moment and there was a risk of Roxburgh facing increases to cover the funding shortfall. "We remain hopeful that the PHO will reconsider its decision or work towards a more sustainable, long-term solution so any fee increases can be minimal." In contrast to Roxburgh, HealthCentral's Alexandra practice — which operates seven days a week, providing after-hours and public holiday care for the wider region — received no increase in rural funding for 2025-26 and that was no longer sustainable, Ms Smith said. "With no increase in funding, we cannot be expected to absorb the rising cost of staffing weekends and holidays." Central Otago district councillor for the Teviot Valley ward Sally Feinerman said she was deeply concerned about the threat to the viability of the community's only primary healthcare provider. "The potential consequences — reduced services, increased patient fees or even closure — are simply not acceptable." Mrs Feinerman said she stood with HealthCentral in calling for an urgent review of the rural funding model. "Let's be clear: rural health is not a luxury — it is a necessity."
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Thousands In The South Benefiting From CPCT
More than 6,600 people so far across Southland and Otago have benefited from a nationwide programme called Comprehensive Primary & Community Care Teams (or CPCT), which offers free care for those in need. This is according to a new evaluation report by WellSouth, the primary health organisation (PHO) for Southland and Otago, which facilitates the Health New Zealand-funded programme locally. Established to improve equity of access and health outcomes, particularly for Māori, Pacific, and rural peoples, the report shows CPCT is doing its job. In just 12 months, 6,672 people have had help from teams in Southland and Otago. Over a fifth were Māori, with a similar proportion of Pacific Peoples, two groups who are historically less likely to connect with primary care. WellSouth CEO, Andrew Swanson-Dobbs, says the evaluation report shows CPCT improves access to care and plugs gaps in current provision. 'Our team spoke to patients and staff involved with the programme, and the results show many benefits, from making a real difference to people's lives and their long-term engagement with health services generally, to freeing up GP capacity, to building better relationships between teams and providers.' The evaluation showed improved long-term condition management, reductions in hospital readmissions, decreased social isolation, and increased health literacy. Practices involved in CPCT also saw a statistically significant increase in preventive care such as immunisations and cardiovascular risk assessments. In terms of workforce, CPCT provided for 17.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff across 37 locations, some at general practices, some at community providers and some across both. CPCT Teams include care coordinators, clinical pharmacists, physiotherapists and kaiāwhina, who often visit people at home. Mr Swanson-Dobbs says CPCT teams also strengthen partnerships between local community providers and general practices that are in a CPCT geographic cluster. 'Relationships and partnerships have been instrumental to the success of this initiative, and we are incredibly grateful to all the staff and providers who are part of making this work. 'These multidisciplinary teams are providing support well beyond traditional clinical care, including health education, social support and system navigation.' The report shows that WellSouth's role has been central to the success of CPCT in the South, with the evaluation highlighting the PHO's support in enabling collaboration, offering workforce development funding, and providing strategic and practical guidance for new initiatives. 'As a PHO, we're proud to have facilitated the connections, trust and flexibility needed for this to thrive,' says Mr Swanson-Dobbs. Funded by Health New Zealand, CPCT was designed to strengthen primary and community care by embedding new roles into general practice teams. WellSouth was contracted to roll out CPCT across the Southern region, and brought together general practices, Māori and Pacific providers into local clusters to deliver care.
