Wānaka after hours care to be staffed by nurses

New after hours emergency health care in Wānaka will be staffed by nurses.

Health New Zealand has confirmed some extra details about how it will run its much-asked-for overnight service, but where it will operate from and how much users will need to pay are still unknown.

The health authority's South Island regional wayfinder Chiquita Hansen says nurses based in Wānaka will work with remote support from doctors based at Dunstan hospital to care for patients.

She expects the service to be up and running in September. 

However Ms Hansen could not confirm rumours the Wānaka clinic will be located near to Hato Hone St John's ambulance services in the town, instead saying several locations are still being explored.

She says a project lead has been appointed "to ensure work progresses at pace" and nurses are being recruited.

Ms Hansen was also unable to confirm any budget for the project or potential prices for patients of the service, saying "further details will be available as implementation plans progress".

The service will run seven days a week from 11pm to 8am, when staff at local GP clinics have signed out for the day.

The arrangement between Health New Zealand and the hospital has been agreed to for a 12 month period.

Dunstan Hospital in Clyde is run by Central Otago Health Services Limited, a community owned, not-for-profit company.

Late-night health care for Wānaka residents and visitors was cut approximately two years ago, when GP practices Aspiring Medical Centre and Wānaka Medical Centre stopped their overnight roster due to ongoing staffing issues.