Kaitāia Hospital to gain new scar therapy and extended audiology clinics

Kaitāia Hospital patients are set to benefit from new and expanded facilities. Photo / NZME

New specialist services at Kaitāia Hospital are being welcomed as a step forward for the Far North, but a Northland emergency doctor said it is only one piece of a much larger, under-resourced system.

Health Minister Simeon Brown this week announced improvements for Kaitāia Hospital, which include a scar therapy clinic, now available for the first time for Kaitāia, and expanded audiology services aimed at reducing wait times.

“These improvements mean more people in the Far North can access specialist care closer to home, without the need for long-distance travel,” Brown said.

“Previously, patients needing scar therapy following burns, surgery, or other traumatic injuries had to travel to Kawakawa or Whangārei, often facing round trips of 200 to 300km. This treatment is critical, helping to reduce pain and tightness, improve movement, and support people to return to everyday activities.

“Clinics are now being delivered locally in Kaitāia, reducing the stress and cost of travel and making it easier for patients to access care. This includes children recovering from burns, who can now receive treatment closer to home.”

Audiology services have also been significantly strengthened, with a purpose-built soundproof room providing a dedicated, fit-for-purpose space for hearing assessments.

Brown added that capacity has more than quadrupled, increasing from about nine patients a month to nine patients a week, while wait times for a first appointment have dropped from up to 12 months to around four.

He said the changes bring Kaitāia Hospital closer to the standard of larger centres, like Whangārei, and form part of a wider effort to improve access to healthcare in rural areas.

Northland emergency doctor Gary Payinda said while the new services are a positive step, they need to be part of a broader approach to fixing healthcare access across the region.

“It’s a great thing for the Far North, but none of these things can be done in isolation.

“They need to be part of a logical whole that addresses the needs of the community. Having a scar therapy clinic and an audiology clinic is wonderful as long as we also have the nurses, specialist doctors and GPs to care for patients before and after they are seen.”

Payinda said the reality on the ground remained challenging, with ongoing shortages affecting primary care, specialist services and emergency care across Northland.

“Right now the Far North suffers from serious problems with access to GPs and specialist care and acute and emergency services, that is reality of the situation on the ground.”

He said services like local hearing tests would make a real difference for patients, particularly those who previously had to travel long distances or pay out of pocket.

“But it’s not a panacea. It’s a very small piece of an underfunded puzzle.”

He said the new clinics would be more effective if they formed part of a wider, sustained effort to strengthen healthcare systems across the Mid and Far North.