Wānaka healthcare advocates have welcomed a boost in funding for the area, but say the government’s announcement lacks clear commitments.

Ruairi O’Shea reports.

A boost of $180 million for healthcare services in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts is a stopgap, not a plan for accessible public healthcare in the area, a Wānaka community group says.

A Health Action Wānaka spokeswoman welcomed news of the funding, announced this month, but described it as a ‘‘step toward addressing long-standing gaps in care’’ rather than one which fully addressed the issue of equitable access to public healthcare in the area.

‘‘It remains unclear what this funding will deliver for Wānaka and the Upper Clutha, where access to essential services continues to fall short of community need,’’ the spokeswoman said.

The group was pleased to see a commitment to expanding local delivery of mental health and addiction services, but believed Wānaka needed fit-for-purpose clinical spaces to support mental health…