Remote area has medical service restored

Full-time doctor services are returning to a remote Northland community.

The coastal area was left without a general practice after the Coopers Beach Medical Centre closed suddenly last month.

Dr Neil Benson closed the centre on April 13 after a dispute with the Te Tai Tokerau primary health organisation.

The dispute centred around a general practitioner roster providing after-hours care in the Kaitaia and Coopers Beach areas.

A temporary GP and nursing clinic was set up by the Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation (PHO), the Northland District Health Board and Maori health provider Te Hau Ora O Te Hiku O Te Ika to plug the gap after the medical centre closed.

But Te Hau Ora O Te Hiku O Te Ika has now decided to establish a full-time clinic at Coopers Beach.

However, the provision of after-hours care is yet to be worked out, Te Tai Tokerau PHO general manager Rose Lightfoot said.

Doctors in Kaitaia are providing after- hours care in the interim but a permanent arrangement is yet to be made.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)