RNZ
- Clinic cancelled with no warning and no explanation
- Health New Zealand says such decisions “are made with involvement of relevant clinical and service leaders” and permanent staff now taking over the clinic
- But emails show staff not consulted, and there was no plan to manage patients
- “Northland has two gastroenterologists but really needs at least four” – Dr Stein
- Patients “gutted”
A specialist locum who has been working in the Far North for nearly a decade had his clinic cancelled by Health New Zealand with no warning – and no plan to support his 100 patients.
Leading gastroenterologist Dr Richard Stein says while arrangements have now been made to cover his Kaitaia patients, the move appears to be “thoughtless cost-cutting” by management.