The West Coast District Health Board is paying the equivalent of $24,000 a year for Buller Health's clinical director to commute to Westport.
Dr Paul Cooper moved to Manawatu with his family late last month and now flies in to Westport to work 34.9 hours a week.
The board's general manager, planning and funding, Wayne Turp, said it cost $600 a week to fly Dr Cooper between Westport and Palmerston North.
The commuting costs were justified, Mr Turp said.
"Given how well respected Dr Cooper is on the Coast, and to ensure continuity of care, we think it worthwhile investing to retain his services rather than use locums which would be more expensive.''
Buller Health employed 14 locum GPs last year at a cost of $647,914.
Dr Cooper flies into Westport on Wednesday mornings and out again Friday evenings, except every fifth week when he provides hospital cover.
Then he arrives on a Thursday and leaves on a Monday.
He remains a key advisor on plans for Westport's new integrated family health centre and has about 40 patient appointments a week.
During his absence his patients are cared for by his clinical team, headed by himself and Dr Vaughan Leigh.
- Lee Scanlon of the Westport News
