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GEORGIA FORRESTER

Last updated17:59, July 4 2017

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A a female rheumatologist would be starting at Midcentral DHB in late July.

Palmerston North Hospital has employed anewrheumatologist, bringing much-needed relief to patients suffering from chronic pain.

MidCentralDistrict Health Board confirmed afemale rheumatologist would be starting in late July.

Rheumatologiststypically deal with chronic, long-term conditions,autoimmuneconditions and arthritis.

The hospital lost two rheumatologists in 2016after a longserving specialist retired in August, and the other resigned in December to moveoverseas.

READ MORE: *Concerns raised over shortage of arthritis specialists and delays in replacements *Arthritis sufferer told hospital department will close - DHB denies this

The almost eight month wait to fill the job has left some patients frustrated and forced others to seek treatment at other DHBs.

Scleroderma patient Catherine Thompson was "appalled" by the wait.

Thompson is one of a handful of patients in Manawatu with a rare condition that causes a thickening of the skin and connective tissues.

Scleroderma patients often sought help from rheumatologists, who had experience with autoimmune diseases, she said.

During the time there was no specialist in the district, some patients travelled to Wellington and one to Auckland for treatment, she said.

Palmerston North's Arthritis Support Group shared her concern.The group's secretary treasurer Anne Odogwu said one woman with particularlybad arthritis sought treatment in Wellington.

In a meeting on Tuesday, MidCentralchief executive Kathryn Cook admitted it taken "quite some time" to employ a rheumatologist.

Cook said it waschallenging to recruit people with the qualifications and skills during, at times,national and international shortages.

The hospital's workforce update report showed there were 56 full-time equivalent vacancies.

"We have less of a challenge in the nursing space and more of a challenge in the allied health and medical space for specific roles. But in saying that, our trend is worsening," Cook said.

Compared nationally, however, MidCentral was "certainly not" one of the worst performers when it came to recruitment, she said.

Hospital services operations director Lyn Horgansaidthere was a nationwide and international shortage of specialist rheumatologists.

MidCentral's rheumatology service was small, and dealt primarily with out-patients suffering arthritis, but it did also receive a small number of urgent referrals.

The arrival of the hospital's new specialist was delayed "longer than expected" due to the relocation process, she said.

In the interim, the services of a Hawke's Bay rheumatologist were used for urgent referrals and other follow-up clinic patients. Others were seen by their GPs.

-Stuff

Original post:
Palmerston North to get arthritis specialist after long wait - Stuff.co.nz

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