Sick South Aucklanders can tap into free doctor visits at urgent night-time clinics this winter, thanks to casino gambling profits.
The Sky City Community Trust has donated $162,000 to South Auckland health projects.
Most of it is being used to provide free consultations between 8 pm and 1 am until September 29 at two clinics: East Tamaki Healthcare, in Otara, and Raukura Hauora O Tainui, at Middlemore Hospital.
The aims are to boost the health status of South Auckland and to ease the strain on Middlemore's emergency department. Children's admissions at the hospital soar 40 per cent over winter.
South Auckland has high rates of meningococcal disease and rheumatic fever, and its hospital admission levels for respiratory diseases continue to grow at well above the national average.
The Tainui clinic is also offering free consultations from 6 pm on Fridays and from 3 pm at weekends until the end of September.
Tainui manager Bill Takerei said the free clinics were a wonderful opportunity to improve health with early intervention, particularly among Maori, a group who often could not afford doctors' fees.
The flu caused many deaths last winter, he said. The clinics could provide prompt treatment.Martin JohnstonA member of the community trust, Sharon Deaker, said the free clinics "offer a solution to a genuine area of need in the community."
The donation is also being used to provide transport for some patients and to distribute health information packs containing key messages on immunisation, hygiene and smoking to schools, churches and community groups.
Gambling profits go to health
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