Sally Furniss
Well-known member
GPs may put off routine checks
By CHARLIE GATES - The Press
Last updated 05:00 17/06/2009
Canterbury GPs may abandon diabetes checks and routine services as they prepare for double the normal number of patients at the peak of the swine flu pandemic.
Health officials expect Canterbury GPs will each have to deal with 150 extra patients a week.
Doctors would have to delay smears, diabetes checks, routine checkups and other non-essential services for several months to deal with the rush.
Pegasus Health senior clinical leader Dr Simon Wynn-Thomas said it was essential to reorganise GP practices.
"If we did nothing, GPs would be swamped, so we have to do this," Wynn-Thomas said.
"There is also the possibility of doctors getting sick, and that will reduce the workforce.
"It is clear we cannot carry on business as usual. Primary care needs to reconfigure itself."
Health officials have sent letters to GPs urging them to reorganise in preparation for more swine flu cases.
Wynn-Thomas said more swine flu treatment centres could be established in Christchurch to keep pandemic patients separated from other patients.
Pharmacies could take on more duties to help out overwhelmed GPs, he said.
Christchurch pharmacies would be asked to consider offering home deliveries in a bid to contain the virus. The Canterbury Community Pharmacy Group and Canterbury's Primary Care Pandemic Planning Reference Group will advise pharmacies to prepare for the measure.
Canterbury Community Pharmacy Group chairwoman Carolyn Oakley-Brown said home deliveries were a last resort if "families, friends or members of the community" could not help with the pickup and delivery of medicine.
More than 2000 calls from Canterbury among almost 11,000 nationally have been made to Healthline since the start of this month, many with swine flu queries.
A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said the number of national calls peaked yesterday at about 1500, almost double the usual number.
In Canterbury, caller numbers peaked on Saturday at 207.
Just below 80 per cent of all Healthline calls are being answered, with 21.4 per cent of callers hanging up before they speak to a nurse, ministry figures show.
More staff have been promised, but delays are still expected.
Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Ramon Pink said many parents were calling Healthline.
"Parents can be anxious, but it is giving them the right information about what they should do. That is understandable," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/swine-flu/2506521/GPs-may-put-off-routine-checks
By CHARLIE GATES - The Press
Last updated 05:00 17/06/2009
Canterbury GPs may abandon diabetes checks and routine services as they prepare for double the normal number of patients at the peak of the swine flu pandemic.
Health officials expect Canterbury GPs will each have to deal with 150 extra patients a week.
Doctors would have to delay smears, diabetes checks, routine checkups and other non-essential services for several months to deal with the rush.
Pegasus Health senior clinical leader Dr Simon Wynn-Thomas said it was essential to reorganise GP practices.
"If we did nothing, GPs would be swamped, so we have to do this," Wynn-Thomas said.
"There is also the possibility of doctors getting sick, and that will reduce the workforce.
"It is clear we cannot carry on business as usual. Primary care needs to reconfigure itself."
Health officials have sent letters to GPs urging them to reorganise in preparation for more swine flu cases.
Wynn-Thomas said more swine flu treatment centres could be established in Christchurch to keep pandemic patients separated from other patients.
Pharmacies could take on more duties to help out overwhelmed GPs, he said.
Christchurch pharmacies would be asked to consider offering home deliveries in a bid to contain the virus. The Canterbury Community Pharmacy Group and Canterbury's Primary Care Pandemic Planning Reference Group will advise pharmacies to prepare for the measure.
Canterbury Community Pharmacy Group chairwoman Carolyn Oakley-Brown said home deliveries were a last resort if "families, friends or members of the community" could not help with the pickup and delivery of medicine.
More than 2000 calls from Canterbury among almost 11,000 nationally have been made to Healthline since the start of this month, many with swine flu queries.
A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said the number of national calls peaked yesterday at about 1500, almost double the usual number.
In Canterbury, caller numbers peaked on Saturday at 207.
Just below 80 per cent of all Healthline calls are being answered, with 21.4 per cent of callers hanging up before they speak to a nurse, ministry figures show.
More staff have been promised, but delays are still expected.
Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Ramon Pink said many parents were calling Healthline.
"Parents can be anxious, but it is giving them the right information about what they should do. That is understandable," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/swine-flu/2506521/GPs-may-put-off-routine-checks