Workman put local health care case

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 479, 30 March 1993, Page 3

Workman put local health care case

Ruapehu mayor Garrick Workman was pleased with the reception he received when he presented submissions on Waiouru and Waimarino health services to the Regional Health Authority last week. "The board wasn't aware of a lot of the special problems and issues facing the area so I believe it was very worthwhile making the effort to present the submissions," said Mr Workman. "They were genuinely interested and surprised at the difficulties

people face in terms of health care in this area." Murray Bums, chief executive for the Wanganui Crown Health Enterprise assisted the mayor in making the presentation, which made it much stronger, said Mr Workman. "We tried to impress upon them the importance of bringing health care to the people, not expecting people to travel to them." Mr Workman cited the long travel times people face to visit health care facilities, and the special

problems this creates in this area especially in terms of the lack of public transport. "Forty per cent of army wives don't have a driver's licence - that alone makes it hard for them to get out of the area." "Our aim is to drive the (health reform) process the way we want it - to be involved in writing the specifications, rather than criticising or trying to change what they put in place later."