Selwyn Times: September 13, 2016

SELWYN TIMES Tuesday September 13 2016 3
News
Ill miss out on doctors’
appointments
• By Tom Doudney
FREE DOCTORS’ visits for
under 13-year-olds has led to
children with minor ailments
taking appointments from those
in greater need, a Rolleston
doctor says.
Rolleston Central Health
managing director Dr Philip
Schroeder said that the policy,
introduced by the Government
on July 1 last year, had had a
huge impact on general practices
in Selwyn and across Canterbury.
“We are often seeing all those
very well under 13s taking appointments
for what effectively
are just basic colds for which
they never would have been seen
in the past,” Dr Schroeder said.
“Something I am hearing
across all Selwyn practices is that
we are finding it very difficult to
see those that really need care
because the urgent appointments
are being taken up by children
who are, by and large, relatively
well.”
Dr Schroeder said that for
all the children in the under
13 group that were seen at his
practice, probably only one in 10
really needed to be.
TIME IS PRECIOUS: Dr Philip Schroeder (left), says free visits for under 13s mean a lot of
appointments are being taken by children who don’t need to see a doctor.
Many presented with minor
coughs and colds and would
have been better off being treated
at home.
When the practice couldn’t
fit in someone who needed an
urgent appointment, they were
referred to a 24-hour facility in
Christchurch.
Dr Schroeder, who is chairman
of the Canterbury Primary Pandemic
Group, said the shortage
of urgent appointments times
was particularly difficult during
the winter when influenza
and other viral infections were
circulating.
Ministry of Health community
health group manager Andrew
Inder said the new policy appeared
to have been effective at
improving access to primary
care for children aged under 13.
General practice teams could
decide how to best manage their
patients in ways that worked best
for their enrolled population.
“For instance, it could mean
that children aged under 13 are
initially triaged by a nurse, at
which point it can be decided
whether an appointment with a
GP is required,” Mr Inder said.
Rolleston resident Jenny
Fitzgerald said her adult
daughter had found it hard to
get an appointment at Rolleston
Central Health when she needed
LINCOLN EVENT CENTRE
SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER
an infection in her hand treated
with antibiotics recently.
She had initially been told she
would either have to wait two
days or visit a 24-hour service
in Christchurch, although as it
turned out they did manage to fit
her in the next day.
“I just felt it wasn’t good
enough,” Mrs Fitzgerald said.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Have you
found it hard to get a timely
appointment at your medical
centre? Are people too quick
to take their children to a
doctor? Send your views to
tom.doudney@starmedia.
kiwi
7 pm start | Doors & Bar open 6.00pm
Jeremy Corbett | Justine Smith | Ben Hurley | Tom Furniss
at The Famous Grouse Hotel or email lincolnticketsnz@gmail.com
In Brief
DECISION EXPECTED
The outcome of the Rolleston
Reserve Land exchange proposal
is expected tomorrow. The
decision on developing over half
of the reserve into a commercial
area went to the hearings
panel last month. The district
council received 50 submissions
opposing the idea. Only nine
supported it.
CRASH INJURIES
A Rolleston woman and
a Christchurch man were
recovering in Christchurch
Hospital yesterday after being
involved in a crash at the
intersection of Main South
Rd and Weedons Ross Rd on
Sunday at about 10am. Sergeant
Dan Harker said the woman,
who was the sole occupant of her
car, pulled out onto Main South
Rd in front of the man who was
on a motor-cycle.
SKATE PARK UPDATED
Work on the skate park in
Darfield has finally finished. The
redevelopment of the skate area
at Westview Park has now been
completed. New ramps have
been added to the skate area, as
well as a shade cover.
Introducing John Sunckell –
ECan candidate
A third generation farmer from Leeston,
married to Karen with two children, I have
been involved with St John Ambulance
in Selwyn for the past 34 years and also
participate and lead in many other sports
and community groups.
For five years I have been involved with
the Selwyn/Waihora Zone Committee and
also with the development of the Selwyn
Waihora subchapter.
I am standing for ECan in the knowledge
that we are changing practices and moving
our environmental footprint forward with
a population also accepting of the need for
change.
To overcome and continually improve the
environmental challenges we face, genuine
engagement on farm and in our vibrant
rural communities is required – working
together.
As well as environment issues, ECan
is also about the continued building of
infrastructure, connectivity and transport
vital for our future in Canterbury –
especially in the rural hinterland.
Our governors need a collaborative approach
to take us and our communities forward.
I believe that with my strong community
focus and knowledge of water and
agriculture, I will make a strong governor
for Canterbury and representative for Mid
Canterbury.
John Sunckell
ECAN 2016
“Working together taking us forward”
• A steady experienced hand
• Strong Mid Canterbury voice
• Thriving sustainable communities
• Responsible resource use
• Simple regulatory processes
0274 542 554
john4ecan@xtra.co.nz
john4ecan
Authorised by John Sunckell, 100 Caldwells Road, Leeston