Full costs from WellSouth PHO were unavailable, but they included $12,100 for initial consultations in the first four months of this financial year.
The PHO is waiting for Southern District Health Board to negotiate funding from the Ministry of Health. The DHB told the Otago Daily Times it will repay the PHO when it gets the money. WellSouth Maori health director Peter Ellison said the PHO was drawing on a general GP voucher scheme, which would run out.
Since Dunedin became a refugee centre in April, about 130 had arrived. The city will receive about 175 former refugees every year. Some have significant counselling needs, and the PHO wanted to establish a programme to meet counselling and mental health requirements. Physical health needs also tended to be greater.
"Some of them have been in camps for four, or five, or six years, with little service," he said.
The $12,100 was for initial consultations, extended visits to introduce them to the health system. It did not count subsequent visits.
"The positive support from the Dunedin general practices the former refugees have enrolled in has been fantastic."
All former refugees were enrolled in a practice and had their first visit within a week or two of their arrival, Mr Ellison said.
South Dunedin GP Dr Jill McIlraith said she was looking after a refugee family, and enjoyed working with them.
"They are delightfully positive and keen to do all they can to be independent and make the most of every opportunity.
"I think the need for counselling may come later — often it is not during the euphoria of the first few months in a new home that things become difficult, but several months to even years later," she said.
Dr McIlraith said she had had to explain to them that referrals to other services, such as hospital specialists, took more time than "everyone, including the volunteer supporters, would like".
SDHB planning and funding director Sandra Boardman, who replied in a statement, said the PHO would be refunded in due course.
"Southern DHB is working with the PHO and the Ministry of Health to explore how to make the most effective use of this funding to meet the healthcare needs of this community.
"This includes determining the services that will be funded locally and those that will be funded centrally," the statement said.
eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
