Virtual doctor consultations in Patea

Taupo Medical Centre clinical director Dr Giles Turner tests equipment used in virtual consultations with Patea patients. Photo/ supplied

Patea people can now consult Taupo doctors "live" by video conference - without leaving town.

The new health service started on Tuesday, at the Patea & District Community Medical Trust building in the main street. It has taken weeks of planning, trustee Brett Honeyfield said.

The arrangement is to last for four months, by which time the trust hopes to have found a GP who can commit to staying in the South Taranaki town.

Patea has been without a doctor since July 3, but Mr Honeyfield said nurses have been treating a range of conditions "under standing orders" in the meantime.

In the new service, patients will first be screened by nurses, then the nurse will brief the distant GP and stay with the patient during their video consultation.

During it, the GP will have access to the patient's records held by the trust - which Mr Honeyfield said was important for patients with high and complex needs.

The service will be able to treat a wide range of conditions.

It is provided by the trust and Taupo Medical Centre, with oversight by the Pinnacle Middlands Health Network, a primary health organisation.

People with less serious health problems can be treated for free at the combined Ngāti Ruanui/Dr Lance O'Sullivan Pop Up Virtual Medical Centre. It's in the Patea Maori Club building and uses different online technology and it started on Monday.