Lack of cellphone coverage concerns rural Kaikoura doctors

The lack of cellphone coverage around Kaikoura is causing issues for local doctors. Photo/File

Rural doctors around Kaikoura say a lack of cell phone and internet coverage is making their emergency responses immensely complicated.

They're some of many rural GPs across the country calling upon the Government and corporates to improve rural signal, after a series of national rural health conferences last week.

Kaikoura GP Dr Chris Henry said he often struggles to find emergency patients, or contact hospitals for treatment advice.

He said recent quake hazards such as aftershocks and slips have worsened the problem.

Dr Henry said the inland route to Kaikoura is hazardous at the best of times, so they need a tower installed on the route to keep repair workers and drivers safe.

He said he often struggles to find emergency patients, or contact hospitals for treatment advice.

Henry said they have had countless close calls dealing with communications blackspots, that make it hard to find people on farms or roads.

"We cover a very large rural area and if we're called to an accident ... if you go 10 minutes in either direction there is no phone coverage so we've had all kinds of problems even simply trying to locate people," he said.