Health group assured views valuable

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 504, 21 September 1993, Page 2

Health group assured views valuable

by Allison Anderson, WHWC "Your concerns and views on health do matter and we want to hear them," says the Waimarino Health Watch Committee (WHWC). At a WHWC meeting held last Monday Sue Hine, regional co-ordinator of community health committees and Michael Sewell, director of Centr al Regional Health Authority (CRHA) want to know what people need in the way of health services and emphasised the importance of maintaining a dialogue between the Waimarino community via WCHWC and other groups

within the community in order to ensure that the health services provided are the services actually needed, not just those some may perceive to be necessary. T o find out what services are used aquestionnaire will be compiled and sent to every householder in the Waimarino and results sent to CRHA. The first idea of a questionnaire, raised at the second public meeting, was subsequently quashed by Ron Janes, executive of Good Health Wanganui who led people to believe that the wishes of the community would have no bear-

ing and a new health centre would be built regardless. It was reassuring therefore to hear Michael Sewell say that the RH A very much want to know what people in the community feel is important and what they need in the way of health services facilities. He stressed that Good Health Wanganui is accountable to CRHA and it is their responsibility to provide "accessible, affordable and quality health services for this region". He stressed he would be more than happy to visit and talk with groups in the community. If problems relating to access to serv-

ices occur, CRHA needs to know so that appropriate services may be purchased for this area. In order to keep CRHA informed re-health in this area, minutes from each Health Watch committee meeting are to be forwarded as are copies of ihe. Ruapehu Bulletin and Ruapehu Press. Health Watch committee members are your voice so please let them know what your feelings/concerns are with regard to a Health Centre and services. The next committee meeting is on Monday 27 September. Any of the following Health Watch committee members can be contacted in order to present your views, worries/concems at

the next meeting: Jenny Dekker, chairperson; Justine Adams, secretary; Kate Lourie, Alison Anderson, Chris Brown, Phillip Beer, George Drayton, Mary Cranston, Janet Griffiths, Carole Harford, Dorothy Scarrow, Lesley Proude, Margot Webb, Peggy Frew. Mayor tickles the ivories You know Ruapehu's mayor Garrick Workman is now a motellier but did you know he's pretty swift on the keyboard? Saturday nightheplayed the piano for a bunch of visiting Hawera-ites while dining at the Hobbit (pity they couldn't sing in tune! ).