Happy 20th 24 Hour Surgery!

Media release, 1 August 2007

Happy 20th 24 Hour Surgery!

The Pegasus Health 24 Hour Surgery celebrates its 20th year of operation this month, proving to be one of New Zealand’s most enduring round-the-clock GP practices.

It is the only dusk till dawn medical provider in the South Island not attached to a hospital and one of just six GP surgeries in New Zealand open between 10pm and 8am.

“Round-the-clock care is becoming harder to deliver every year. Costs continue to climb and we share the difficulties every medical organisation faces in trying to recruit staff,” says Pegasus Health Managing Director Dr Paul McCormack.

“It’s not always easy – only a portion of our costs are covered by government subsidies and as a not-for-profit we work to keep costs as low as we can, but we have to continue to reinvest in resources and facilities and we are continually having to look for ways to remain viable.”

Pegasus Health bought the 24 Hour Surgery from its GP owners in 2005 when it became clear that tough times were ahead for after hours services.

“We could see that an increasing number of services around the country were struggling and even closing and that the 24 Hour Surgery could head in the same direction. We felt – and continue to feel – very strongly about ensuring Christchurch people could still access GP care no matter what the time of day.”

In the 20 years since the 24 Hour Surgery first opened its doors, it has treated more than one million patients. No research has been done on how many Emergency Department visits it has saved, but more than 10,000 people a year passed through its doors between 10pm and 8am, when it is the only other available service in town.

Mark Leggett, General Manager of Medical and Surgical Services for Canterbury District Health Board, says he greatly values the collaboration between the 24 Hour Surgery and Christchurch Hospital.

“Christchurch is well served by the round-the-clock service provided by the 24 Hour Surgery. The Surgery sees 15,000 people between 10pm and 8am per year, a workload that benefits the Christchurch Hospital service by helping to ensure that people do not come to the Emergency Department inappropriately.”

“There has been growing clinical collegiality between the hospital and the Surgery, and in times of pressure, the two teams work very well together.”

ENDS

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