Pelorus Area Health Trust
The following letter is from Springlands Health and sent to all Account Holders of each enrolled family at Havelock Medical Centre:
“08 March 2011
Dear Patient(s)
We regret to inform you that Dr Buzz Burrell will be leaving Springlands Health Ltd and the Havelock Medical Centre from the 1st April 2011. We have greatly appreciated his contribution to the health and welfare of the patients in Havelock and Springlands, and we wish him well in his future endeavours.
We have been lucky enough to secure the services of Dr Theun Thien (pronounced Tone Tien) from Holland for two years. He will be working in Havelock from the 1st April on Mondays, Tuesdays and a full Thursday. Appointments will be available from 9am to 4.45pm, which will mean 20 more appointments per week in Havelock. We have decided to put a doctor at Havelock for a full day on Thursdays to compensate for the loss of the sole charge Practice Nurse on Fridays. Nelson Marlborough District Health Board will not fund the Practice Nurse on Fridays from the 1st April. Dr Thien will be in Springlands on Fridays. Dr Burrell's Blenheim patients may choose to transfer to one of Springland's other doctors or stay with Dr Thien.. Dr Rod Bird, who has previously been working in Havelock on a Thursday, will provide services in Blenheim from the 10th March.
Our nurses and doctors are committed to making sure Havelock and Springlands patients have continuity of medical care throughout the week. If the enrolments grow at the Havelock Medical Centre, we will be able to consider extending the days that the surgery is open. Havelock's viability depends on you. Please call for medical advice from Healthline Ph: 0800 611 116, or phone Springlands Health on 03-5780979 for appointments in Havelock or Blenheim. In an emergency phone 111 as usual.
If you have any concerns please contact the Practice Manager on 03-5780 979.
Yours sincerely
Lis Johnston
Practice Manager”
When reading the above letter people might be a bit confused about who to phone for appointments at Havelock MC. The main important issue is to phone Havelock Medical Centre on 5742233 for appointments. When the HMC is closed on Wednesdays and Fridays the phone will transfer to Springlands, Blenheim, where appointments can be made as well.
On 24 February 2011, PAHT had a meeting with Springlands Health and the Havelock Community Assn. It was a very worthwhile meeting and it was agreed that every 3 months the parties (PAHT, SH & HCA) meet together to further progress the issues and keep the lines of communications open, and work together. SH suggested that such a meeting would be attended by Dr Thien and one doctor from Springlands.
So from now on it is onwards and upwards!!
To keep HMC going it is very important that YOUregister at Havelock MC, phone: 5742233.
As you have read from the SH's letter, Dr Thien is from Holland and what I have read on Google ( he is a very qualified and good doctor and he will give it 110%. So give him a chance and support HMC. For appointments phone: 5742233.
We ALL work very hard behind the scenes to give the Pelorus Area the health services they deserve and need.
Please support your Havelock Medical Centre
Irma van der Linden
PAHT Trustee