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A doctor shortage has forced Kenepuru Hospital in Porirua to begin closing the doors to its accident and medical clinic (A&M) overnight.
Until now the clinic has been open 24 hours a day, but from Monday will start closing between 11pm and 8am.
"It would not be safe for us to keep the A&M open overnight when we don't have enough doctors available," Capital and Coast District Health Board chief executive Dr Derek Milne said.
"Increased daytime patient numbers and reduced locum coverage have meant more GPs have been required per session. As a result local GPs have had to reduce the number of sessions they cover at the A&M.
"As a result we are no in a situation where we cannot reliably guarantee having a doctor available for every overnight shift.
"We believe it would be unsafe - and confusing - to have the clinic open some nights and closed others so have decided to reduce the hours of service in a consistent manner."
Maori Party health spokesperson Tariana Turia said she was outraged at the announcement.
She said Kenepuru Hospital provided services to a number of Maori and Pacific Island people.
"We know that transport and travel are significant barriers for many people - particularly those groups who already experience significant disparities in access to health services.
"These people will now be forced to travel into Newtown (Wellington Hospital) in the middle of the night."
Mrs Turia said the decision had been made while Wellington was "supposedly distracted by the Rugby Sevens festivities".
"This hospital services one of the lowest income areas of Wellington. With sub-standard Housing New Zealand homes contributing to their poor health this is a huge setback for Porirua."
"If it is a resource issue to incentivise doctors then the Government must assist."
Capital and Coast DHB said the Kenepuru A&M only saw around one patient an hour on an average night and recommended people with non-urgent ailments wait to see their GP in the morning.
Dr Milne said anyone who was unsure whether they needed to visit the Wellington Emergency Department should call Healthline, free on 0800 611 116, to speak with a nurse.
He said the DHB was working to fix the staffing problem but there was no immediate solution.
"The safety of patients is always our first priority and under current circumstances reducing the hours of service is the right thing to do."
- NZPA
