Associate Professor Garry Nixon.
The current pandemic risks further accentuating the rural – urban health inequities that exist in New Zealand, University of Otago rural health specialists warn.
“District Health Boards must consider and include their rural communities and health services at this time,” Associate Professor Garry Nixon, a rural health specialist from Dunstan Hospital, Clyde; Dr Katharina Blattner, a rural hospital specialist and rural GP, Rawene Hospital, Hokianga Health, Northland; Dr Rory Miller, rural hospital specialist Thames Hospital; Dr Alex Feberwee rural hospital specialist, Ashburton; Dr Branko Sijnja, director of Otago's Rural Medical Immersion Programme and rural GP Balclutha, say. In a statement below they outline their concerns:
Dr Katharina Blattner.
In New Zealand, rural towns represent many of our most vulnerable communities. Residents of rural towns are overall poorer, older, more likely to be Māori and have poorer health outcomes than the cities. These communities rely on rural health services (both primary and secondary), the majority of which are chronically understaffed, with limited specialist services and equipment.
Rural hospitals are made more vulnerable by their lack of “surge capacity”. They are largely driven by acute need and are often at capacity in the winter months. They do not have outpatient clinics or elective surgery that can be cancelled in order to create urgent additional capacity.
Dr Rory Miller.
We would urge DHBs to put in place, if they have not already done so:
- Rural-specific plans developed in partnership with rural health services.
- Processes to ensure equitable access to specialist and intensive care services across their regions, including continuing access for non-COVID acute emergency case.
- A single point of contact for specialist advice for rural clinicians, to co-ordinate the care of deteriorating and critically unwell rural patients.
- Plans to shift workforce into rural health services that have pre-existing serious shortages or when they (especially small services) become overwhelmed.
Dr Alex Feberwee.
- Processes to ensure access to sufficient equipment including personal protective equipment for rural services.
- Additional resources for inter-hospital transfer, of both ventilated patients and those patients who are deteriorating and likely to need intensive care.
- Plans to ensure the rural health services that are now managed by community trusts are given the same consideration and support as those that are managed directly by the local DHB.
It is now time for the Government to implement travel restrictions of non-essential travel to rural remote areas, as this will maximise the one protection rural communities might have – their isolation.
Dr Branko Sijnja.
While we expect much of this work is underway, it will be easy for DHB managers and clinical leaders to become focused with their base hospital services and the patients immediately in front of them and to inadvertently neglect rural-based patients. Geographic equity will be important in the coming weeks and months.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that urban and rural referral sites support each other and act as a unified system of emergency care.
For further information, contact:
Associate Professor Garry Nixon
Section of Rural Health, University of Otago
Rural Hospital Specialist, Dunstan Hospital, Clyde
Email garry.nixon@otago.ac.nz
Dr Katharina Blattner
Senior Lecturer, Section of Rural Health, University of Otago
Rural Hospital Specialist and Rural GP Rawene Hospital, Hokianga Health
Email katharina.blattner@otago.ac.nz
Dr Rory Miller
Senior Lecturer, Section of Rural Health, University of Otago
Rural Hospital Specialist, Thames Hospital
Email rory.miller@otago.ac.nz
Dr Alex Feberwee
Senior Lecturer, Section of Rural Health, University of Otago
Rural Hospital Specialist, Thames Hospital
Email alexander.feberwee@otago.ac.nz
Dr Branko Sijnja
Director, Rural Medical Immersion Programme, University of Otago
Rural General Practitioner, Balclutha
Email branko.sijnja@otago.ac.nz
Liane Topham-Kindley
Senior Communications Adviser
Tel +64 3 479 9065
Mob +64 21 279 9065
Email liane.topham-kindley@otago.ac.nz