Director of Central Otago Health Services (COHSL)
Allan has been involved in several activities from being a founder of Treble Cone, ten years on the NZ wool Board and also in governance roles with water management in the Manuherikia Valley.
Allan spoke predominately about his current role with COHSL. He began by acknowledging the support of Dunstan Hospital by many community organisations such as Rotary’s support in the form of Wheels to Dunstan.
The Central Otago Health Corp is the owner of the Dunstan Hospital and its assets. They have three yearly elections and Lee Overton is the current representative for this area.
In our area the Southern Health Board is responsible for primary and secondary health. It streams all its funding through Dunedin and then through to Dunstan Hospital. Dunstan Hospital still relies on local funding through community groups such as Lions and voluntary organisations.
The staff at the hospital are very community oriented. They have a good culture and ensures maximum value. 95% of the funding comes from STHB this equates to 13 Million Dollars. Half of this money is used to running the ward, another used for other services such as Public Health, Speech, Occupational Therapists, Palliative care etc.
One of the biggest challenges is the growing population. The STHB has a reluctance to change the funding to meet the needs. He noted that a rural hospital has its trials and tribulations. STHB funding is tight. We have both growth and an aging population. This is especially in Cromwell and Wanaka. What is needed is to increase the fiscal capacity.
At a medical assessment for an accident can take 3-4 hours, then there are tests, decisions to be make re-admission or transferring to Dunedin. At present they have 3 beds available but need 6. STHB their strategy is to keep people out of hospital and boast primary care.
At present Dunstan Hospital does not have an emergency department. That would cost an additional million dollars and is not in the plans. It would be unfair on residents of Wanaka who would have to travel up to an hour for after hours treatment. There are no plans for a public hospital in Wanaka or Queenstown. They have looked at setting up a ward in Wanaka but cost was prohibitive. There could be a private hospital in Wanaka or Queenstown in the future.
They strive by the motto Better/Sooner/Closer with primary and community care a priority. The biggest issue is sustainability. At present communities are shouldering the responsibility. The questions included use of technology as a tool, specialists visiting Wanaka thus reducing the many kilometres locals currently travel and the possibility of setting up a blood testing facility in Wanaka.