OUR PRACTICE
Wanaka Medical was established in 1980 after being a “special area practice” with a sole practitioner for many years prior to this. We have always been a rural general practice as well as an accident and emergency centre for locals and visitors to the area.
In 2011 we moved from our buildings in Russell Street to the Wanaka Lakes Health Centre, a purpose built health care facility on Cardrona Valley Road. Our premises are now easily accessible, with full facilities for the disabled and there is ample parking.
We are the largest general practice in Wanaka and we have several permanent doctors, each with different work schedules and specialties. We do make house calls and visits to Elmslie House, our local rest home.
Our closest hospitals are Dunstan Hospital at Clyde, or Queenstown hospital, both around one hour away by car. Wanaka Medical provides accident and emergency service for locals and visitors. If required patients can be transported to hospitals by ambulance or helicopter.
We have a commitment as a teaching practice for medical and nursing students, post graduate trainees and registrars as well as providing continuing medical education for our own staff.
Wanaka Medical has been looking after generations of families with evidence based healthcare. Our approach is always designed around how you want to live, and in partnership with you and your family, tailoring your healthcare to meet your needs and circumstances
OUR PATIENTS
Our enrolled patients are from a wide local area including Wanaka, Luggate, Albert Town, Hawea, Makarora, Cardrona and Mt Barker.
The local people are a mix of all ages from children to a large proportion of retired folk. We do encourage those who are eligible, to have Community Service Cards, High Use Cards or to enrol in the Care Plus Programme.
OUR VISITORS
Many of the visitors have different needs and expectations to our local patients. They come from all over the world including travelling New Zealanders and international travellers, many of whom do not speak English.
The groups of visitors differ with the seasons. There are many holiday makers here over the summer period enjoying lake activities, sun, the outdoors and the holiday social life. In winter, we have seasonal workers and many visitors to the snow fields and those enjoying the winter social life.