Retired doctor returns temporarily to understaffed Horowhenua clinic
Dr Andy van de Vyver has come out of retirement to work five months at Levin's Taitoko Health clinic after the last GP quit.
After retiring last year, Dr Andy van de Vyver agreed to resume duties at Taitoko Health in Levin for a five-month period, stepping in after the sole remaining GP resigned. Van de Vyver had served the community for four decades when the centre was known as Masonic Medical Centre. Since his retirement, a dozen staff members, including four doctors, have left or given notice, leaving the clinic with roughly 4,500 enrolled patients and no GP.
Residents posted supportive comments on the clinic’s Facebook announcement. Taitoko Health is managed by OmniHealth, whose clinics are owned by the Tararua Health Group, and Health New Zealand placed the group on a temporary freeze due to concerns about staff workloads and patient safety.
Why it matters
The clinic’s staffing crisis threatens access to primary care for thousands of local residents.
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