A critical gap in skin cancer services in Central Otago has led a team at Junction Health to expand into a dedicated clinic, as the demand for skin checks continues to rise in one of the country’s highest UV regions. Junction Skin Clinic officially opened in March this year, led by co-owners Dr Keith Abbott, nurse practitioner Alice Van Zijl, practice nurse Angela Ryley and her husband John Ryley. Operations manager Jo Hamilton oversees the service. The clinic follows the closure of a previous local skin cancer service in March 2025, which left Queenstown and Wānaka as the nearest options for many patients. A temporary clinic was set up in April 2025 to help meet immediate demand before the permanent service launched this year. Dr Abbott, with more than 15 years experience in medicine and skin cancer diagnosis, said the need for accessible care in the region was significant, and the demand for skin cancer services in Central Otago was phenomenal.…