Frustration is growing as Ara Institute of Canterbury students head into their fourth month without a campus doctor.
The Ara Health Centre’s only GP retired in June, and has not yet been replaced.
In the meantime, the centre has been directing appointments to Moorhouse Medical Centre, something student Lucy Gilbert said was out of her price range.
“They could actually book us in with a different practice and still have the same amount of money that you would have paid for the other GP that we used to see.
“Find a backup, find a replacement, a cheaper option, maybe not send us away, and actually help us when we go.”
Ara has said it would refund the difference between the Moorhouse Medical Centre fee and the usual subsidised Ara fee.
Gilbert first found out about the absence by text in May and still hadn’t heard any updates.
That was because there hadn’t been any. Ara has been advertising for a replacement GP but hadn’t found any luck.
Ara's website described the issue as a “temporary arrangement".
"Limited nursing services and full counselling services will be available at the Health Centre."
A request to interview Ara chief executive Darren Mitchell was declined, with a spokesperson saying it was a matter "presently under internal consideration".
Co-chair of the Ara Student Council, Phoebe Conger, also declined to comment. She said "the situation is currently in confidential status and the council is meeting with the top people about it soon".
