By Lee Scanlon of 
Westport’s new health centre has struggled for staff since it opened in may last year. Photo: Westport News / Lee Scanlon
Buller Health's acute stabilisation unit (ASU) in Westport - better known to locals as the hospital - is closing for the third time in a month because of another doctor shortage.
Health NZ West Coast said the ASU was short of doctors through illness and leave and it could not find locums to fill the gaps.
The ASU will stop taking admissions from 5pm on Friday until 8.30am next Wednesday. Patients needing admission will be transferred to Greymouth's Te Nīkau Hospital, 100km away.
The Westport ASU will also close for presentations all day Saturday and Sunday and overnight (5pm to 8.30am) next Monday and Tuesday.
Health NZ West Coast said Hato Hone St John would continue to provide usual emergency response services, supported by Primary Response in Medical Emergency responders. Anyone with a medical emergency should dial 111 and ask for an ambulance.
Buller Health's urgent weekend clinics, from 10am to midday Saturday and Sunday, would run as planned.
"All services including GP and nurse practitioner appointments, outpatient clinics, allied health and district nursing will be available at the facility Monday to Friday during normal working hours," the statement said.
During the ASU's last closure, Hato Hone St John extended care paramedics were called in to help. Health West Coast did not immediately respond when asked why the paramedics were not assisting this time.
The latest closure follows the sudden resignation on Wednesday of Buller Health clinical director Dr Murray Wiggins, who commuted to Westport from Hastings.
Health NZ West Coast confirmed his resignation on Thursday, but failed to respond to questions about how long Dr Wiggins had been in the role, whether his departure would worsen the doctor shortage, and when Dr Wiggins would finish work.
"While a recruitment process takes place, clinical leadership for the Buller region will be provided with the support of our chief medical officer, Dr Brendan Marshall, alongside senior clinicians," said associate director of operations, Philip Wheble.
Health NZ West Coast has previously refused to answer questions about the cost of Dr Wiggins' commuting and how often he was on site in Westport.
Staff shortages have plagued Westport's new $20 million health centre since it opened in May last year.
Over the last month, the ASU has been closed to admissions for almost seven days. The last closure finished on Tuesday last week.
Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine said the repeated closures were a big worry.
"There's no doubt it's a risk and concern to the community," Cleine said on Thursday. "That's been conveyed to the minister."
- This story was first published by the Westport News
