Health board aims to close annex

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 278, 14 March 1989, Page 5

Health board aims to close annex

A meeting that was called to "discuss the health care options for Waiouru residents" last week turned out to be little more than an attempted softener for the area health board' s decision to close the Waiouru Maternity Annex.

That is the view expressed by a number of Waiouru residents who attended the meeting. The meeting, attended by more than 300 residents, had been called after what the Wanganui Area Health Board called misinformation had been circulated about the annex. But board chairman Betty Bourke, who chaired the meeting, spent up to an hour stating the case for closing the annex. The board's proposal is: to close the maternity annex and provide a community midwife and refer women to Taihape or Waimarino for obstetric care; and to station an intermediate care officer at Waiouru to provide the nucleus of an ambulance service together with the Army and volunteers. A decision from the board is expected to be made on March 30, with the Army then deciding its part in the future of the annex. Colonel Bret Bestic has been reported as stating the Army will look at the implications of the

possible closure and alternatives. The annex is funded 50-50 by the Army and the board. Army ambulance cut The public meeting followed two meetings between the Army and the hospital after the Army informed the WAHB some twelve months ago that they would no longer be able to provide ambulance services for Waiouru. The Health Board also felt that they should provide a wider range of health services, instead of the present arrangement of predominantly funding the Maternity Annex . The present situation according to the boafd sees no civilian ambulance service and a maternity service in Waiouru that is one of the most expensive in the Wanganui Area Health Board's region. They perceive a need to use the existing funding to meet the needs of a wider range of

community needs. It has been agreed between the Board and the Army that the Board should provide an ambulance service, which will start by the Board purchasing a house in Waiouru, an ambulance and appointing an Intermediate Care Ambulance Officer. But it is contemplated that the existing partnership between the Health Board and the Army will continue to a degree until the Health Board is able to provide an adequate service. This will mean using ambulances from Taihape, Raetihi and Taumarunui and the use of more volunteers. This information was given in answer to the view that the ambulance service would deteriorate instead of improve. The members of the public were also assured that transportation would be provided should the need arise. Seven day midwife The Community Midwife would be given a house and car to enable her to be on call seven day a week. Her duties would include:

Parenting Skills education; the running of antenatal classes and any specialised visits needed; assisting with the early discharge cases with up to twicedaily visits for the first 14 days after birth; post natal follow-up visits and special attention given to those who had still births, neo-natal deaths and those with babies up for adoption. During the vigorous question and answer time of the meeting the reasons why the Waiouru annex should close were discussed. They related to the low occupancy rate and un-der-utilisation of staff and funds and the difficulty in maintaining standards Reasons why Taihape should remain open given include: the hospital services a larger area and a larger population including rural area; its central location; it is linked to a general hospital and, if special attention is needed, extra staff are available; delivery costs cheaper. The Wanganui Area Health Board pointed out several times that

its proposals would take more funds than those presently allocated to the Maternity Annex, but would provide services to a wider number of people in the community. Heated debate The meeting took a total of two and a half hours to complete and during the question and answer time the debate became rather heated with some members of the community feeling that they had not been given full answers to question they had posed. Nothing was resolved and no real conclusions made, and most people present felt that the WAHB had already made up its mind on the issue. The Army have not as yet made any decisions on what they will provide but says it depends on the Health Board. Waiouru was assured that residents will not be left without an adequate ambulance service. The meeting heard that if the Maternity Annex closes the present doctor will almost certainly leave.