Group formed to fight for Waiouru Annex

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 277, 7 March 1989, Page 1

Group formed to fight for Waiouru Annex

A group has been established to fight proposals by the Wanganui Area Health Board to close down the Waiouru Maternity Annex in Waiouru. A public meeting has been organised in Waiouru for Tuesday evening to gauge the feeling of the Waiouru community on health care. Presently, the New Zealand Army fund half the Annex's operation and their contribution to the Annex is not in question, says the Waiouru Maternity Annex Action Committee. "We are really concerned that the Wanganui Area Health Board will put cost-

cutting before our community," said the Committee's spokespersons, Mrs Kate Hutchinson and Mrs Suzanne SimmonsKopa. "There were 58 births here last year and with the Quigley Report recommendations suggesting an increase in Waiouru's population, the Maternity Annex is even more vital to our community," they said. Proposals to transfer the operation of the Annex to Taihape or Waimarino were not acceptable, say the Committee. There were very real dangers associated with travel during the winter months with ice warnings and road closures. The Committee said that Rangitikei MP Denis Marshal would be meeting with the Committee on Monday to discuss the matter

and hoped to attend the Public Meeting on Tuesday evening. The Wanganui Area Health Board chairman, Mrs Betty Bourke, has said the board sees other health needs in Waiouru not being met at present. She says there could be better use made of the resources expended in Waiouru. "It is the Board's contention a more appropriate community health service could be provided by employing a community midwife," she said recently. She said such a service could provide parenting skills education, run ante-natal classes, assist people who request early discharge, provide post-natal help, help with health education and provide a district nursing service.