Health service pulse

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 385, 7 May 1991, Page 13

Health service pulse

By Denis Dwyer, Communications Manager, Manawatu-Wan-ganui Area Health Board A year ago it was Waimarino Hospital, but today it is Waimarino Health Centre. Why the name change? Margaret Martin, the co-ordinator of the Health Centre, explains that the reason for the new name is that so many health services, including hospital services, are based in the building. "Our hospital services are tremendously important", Margaret

says. "The three maternity beds and six g,eneral beds are usually full. Hospital staff run this service together with general practitioners." Part-time physiotherapy and part-time x-ray services are provided in the hospital. Visiting specialists come from Wanganui to run outpatient clinics for medicine, surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry and obstetrics and gynaecology. Also visiting the health centre are a diabetes educator, asthma educator and dietitian. And besides these services there is a growing

range of services based at the centre but provided in the community. There is district nursing, dental nursing and public health nursing, a Maori health worker and psychiatric district nurse visits fortnightly. A district midwifery service is being established and there is going to be a social worker for the district. So, next time you phone expecting to hear the telephonist answer, "Waimarino Hospital", don't hang up when she says, "Waimarino Health Centre". You have found the right place.