The centre's patient volumes were highlighted as part of the Southern District Health Board's effort to cut waiting times at its Dunedin Hospital emergency department.
DHB chief operating officer (Otago) Vivian Blake told the recent hospital advisory committee meeting that Dunedin Urgent Doctors and Accident Centre's attendances had dropped by 1000 patients each year for the past three years, while demand for the hospital's emergency department grew.
Dr Maiai said, when contacted, the centre had operated with a single GP during the day for the past year. Previously, two were rostered.
"The remodelling of the day-time service is now complete, with the benefits of these changes increasingly apparent," Dr Maiai said.
The situation was being carefully monitored, especially with the increased demand created by winter illnesses.
"Despite the softening of demand, which can largely be attributed to the general economic climate, the decision to remodel the balance of resource put into the day service has allowed the [centre] to steadily improve the financial position and operate on a more sustainable basis," he said.
Dunedin's other after-hours medical centre, Mornington Health Centre, had not experienced a noticeable change in demand, the chairman of its board of directors, Dr Tony Fitchett, said.
