25 Aug 2022

Far North residents planning to leave over healthcare access

From Morning Report, 7:45 am on 25 August 2022

Some Far North residents say their access to basic healthcare is so bad that they're planning on leaving the region.

This comes after revelations that a shortage of health workers means there wil be no doctor on duty at Rawene Hospital in the evenings or overnight.

Counties Manukau Health says it has enacted special escalation plans, including cancelling elective surgery, to deal with a surge in patients visiting Middlemore Hospital's emergency department.

Photo: 123RF

Sam Olley reports.