Waiouru midwife decision review

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 521, 1 February 1994, Page 2

Waiouru midwife decision review

From Page 1 intended informing Waiouru residents? The reply was that everyone couldn't be informed at once. Wendy Moss of the Health Watch Committee said she was most distressed that even they had not been informed or consulted. Waiouru Community Board Chairman Peter Pitts said the maternity annexe was closed without consultation and although promised otherwise, cuts had happened again. Mr Pitts reiterated that GHW had told Waiouru residents that the health service would get better. He strongly urged GHW to reconsider their decision to axe Waiouru' s

midwife. Sue Hine, Community Co-ordinator for Manawatu and Wanganui then took the floor. She said the Regional Health Authority (RHA) had not been aware of the full details concerning the proposed changes, and she would be taking the arguments raised by the Waiouru people back to the RHA in Wellington. She also mentioned that any further concerns could be addressed through either herself or the RHA in Wellington. Mayor of Ruapehu District, Garrick Workman, talked about the current round of government health reforms and their impact on the Waiouru community. Mr Workman strongly

urged GHW to reconsider their decision to dispense with the current system of a community based midwife. The main concerns of the people were: □ Lack of consultation about proposed changes, □ The special needs of

the Waiouru community due to the transient nature of the residents, and □ The belief that 3.5 midwives based in Taihape will stretch health services to an unsafe and unacceptable limit. After the meeting the

Bulletin was told that the midwives that would be expected to be on 24 hour call, and provide a safe and effective service for Waiouru under the proposed system, reside in Taihape, Hunterville and Wanganui.