MEDICAL services and doctors in Wanganui are stretched to the limit as winter colds and flu fill waiting rooms.
Clinical Director of Whanganui Accident and Medical David Van Der Walt said it had been exceptionally hard to find replacements for doctors who had left the area and the workload was "unimaginable".
"You've
got no idea [how busy we are]," he said yesterday.
Rural areas across the country were faced with similar problems as doctors failed to be attracted to regional areas.
"We haven't had much luck attracting people to rural areas," Mr Van Der Walt said.
Whanganui Accident and Medical had suffered the loss of a doctor to a Primary Health Organisation.
"We have also lost staff to PHOs which had to open. One doctor had to go fulltime to Gonville Health which means we are down a doctor."
The difficulties reflected a nationwide shortage, he said.
The Medical Centre was having to rely on doctors from overseas, especially ones from America who came for a year as locums.
Springvale Medical Centre GP John Cantillon said the shortage of GPs meant that people were unable to see their local doctor and had no choice but to turn to after hours medical centres, usually reserved for emergencies.
Younger people and children had been affected most by the shortage as they were getting sicker more often and older people were having flu vaccinations, Dr Cantillon said.
"I'm feeling pretty busy this year."
The lack of doctors was probably part of an international trend, which is localised in provincial areas, like Wanganui, he said.
GP Alan Mangan said he was "worn out and tired." But despite the fact that all GPs were working harder they had rallied round.
Doctors had to prioritise but no one was missing out on receiving adequate healthcare, he said.
"I would be concerned if people considerably unwell were not being seen but that is not the case."
The average age of doctors was increasing, however, and they would have to keep planning for the future.
