Patients left in lurch after mass resignation of clinical staff at medical centre

Thursday, 21 January 2021

Angus Gibb is a patient enrolled at Waiwhetu Medical Centre where the sudden announcement that 15 staff have quit has patients concerned about their access to primary health care.

The handling of a “mass resignation” of clinical staff at a community medical centre has left patients concerned about their access to primary health care.

Fifteen staff at Waiwhetu Medical Centre in Lower Hutt have quit with patients receiving letters informing them “the majority of the doctors and nurses” had left on January 15. Some of the 4500 patients on the centre’s books say their letters arrived after January 15.

Angus Gibb is one of those who received their letter late. He regularly visits the centre for arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome, and said the thought that there might not be anyone available to see him or issue prescriptions was a concern.

Are you a patient affected by this mass resignation? Contact newstips@stuff.co.nz

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Some patients received letters telling them of the mass resignation only after the staff had left. This was because a communication plan could not be put in place so close to Christmas, Kura Moeahu, chairman of Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa which has taken over governance of the centre, said.

He could not understand why the centre didn’t warn its patients of what was happening sooner.

“The whole situation is totally abnormal.”

The letter said fewer doctors were available than usual, and the centre aimed to have a full complement of staff by the end of January.

In a statement, Kura Moeahu, chairman of Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa which has taken over governance of the centre, said a mass resignation happened late last year.

Between November 30 and December 30, 15 staff quit, including two practice managers, six doctors, two administration staff, four practice nurses and a primary care practice assistant.

Staff had left to “follow other opportunities”, Moeahu said.

“The resignations occurred in a rush in the period before Christmas and the management of the centre left the centre without having a communication plan in place.”

The rūnanga set up a communication plan as soon as they were able, he said.

Moeahu said current staffing allowed the centre to continue caring for the community.

The centre had entered into an agreement to form a partnership with Whānau Ora Community Clinics to provide medical services. It was hoped the partnership would be in place by the beginning of April.

Moeahu said some of the centre's patients had decided to follow their doctors to other practices.