Health answers

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 300, 18 August 1989, Page 2

Health answers

Dear Julie Martin, Your health queries answered: • Yes the Rural Health Centre will be staffed 24 hours a day. • Where the General Practitioner recommends the patient be treated in the familiar surroundings at home, the nursing care will provide an effective health service. • Once again Mothers and their babies will be discharged when the general practitioner in consultation with the Mother, decides it is appropriate for them. • Relative relief beds have been stated as a definite requirement for this community. • Accidents and emergency - these cases are already admitted direct to Wanganui Base Hospital where the appropriate services are available. • There is a plan ready to activate in the event of natural disaster, but no, beds cannot be kept just in case. The expense would be prohibitive. • X-Ray services are available at our hospital on a regular basis. • The health vote does not fund the care of the "frail ambulant" person. As I stated at the recent Health Meeting - consideration

could be given to putting ih place a private trust to establish a small home for the elderly in the Waimarino. • The community has in the past and still is, more than generous in it's support of the Waimarino Hospital. Unfortunately our local paper didn't give space to acknowledge the tremendous support noted at the 'thank you' morning tea given at the hospital last week. • Remember it was stated at the Health Meeting in Raetihi that a further meeting will be called where ideas that have been expressed and submissions made will be brought back to the community for comment. I repeat there are no plans to close our hospital. Like all Area

Health Boards we face massive cuts in spending power. My responsibility as a board representative is to see that our health requirements in this community are highlighted and that the money is spent on the services we as a community need. Pleased to answer your health queries at anytime Julia - and the queries of the nameless too.

Dorothy Scarrow

Waimarino

Representative Wanganui Area Health Board

Editor's note: The Bulletin did mention the thank-you function in last week's issue, (see story "Rural Voice Vital") but had to delay a fuller report till this issue because of lack of time. See story this issue on who helps out at our hospital.