Waiouru health committee re-formed

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 526, 8 March 1994, Page 14

Waiouru health committee re-formed

The Waiouru Community Health Group (CHG), formerly the Health Watch Committee had its first meeting in several months last week. The group has been unable to function since October, due to a lack of committee members. The meeting was opened by the co-opted chairman, Phil Gardyne. He explained that he had been willingly co-opted and would serve until an election can be held. Key officers will be elected at the next CHG meeting to be held on 17 March in the community health rooms. At the beginning of the meeting only four people were in the group. A further eight people were nominated and seconded to bring the CHG number up to 12. The group is allowed (by the Regional Health Authority) to have up to 20 people. Mr Gardyne hopes for more nominations at the next meeting and would like a full health group. "You don't need to be a health professional, you just need to be interested in the health needs of the community," he said. A large group is desirable for Waiouru, to cover the freq.uent absence of members. About 20 people, mainly health professionals, attended the meeting. Sue Harrison, co-opted secretary, told the meeting of changes to the ambulance system, due to come into

effect on 1 April. The ambulance service is to be contracted to the Order of St John. The Bulletin learned that the ambulance service for Waiouru will not be affected at all. "It is a change of name only," Sandra Byford said after the meeting." Mrs Byford is one of Waiouru' s current ambulance officers. She said the quickest way to get an ambulance in Waiouru is to dial '111'. The emergency call goes to Palmerston North but is immediately transferred to the ambulance officer in Waiouru. The civilian surgery has reduced its fees as of 2 March. The fees will be reviewed in six months and any community feedback or queries can be directed through the surgery. There was heated discussion about the new obstetric service for Waiouru. Mr Karunatilaka will be visiting Waiouru for two hours every month. Concerns were expressed that two hours was not enough for the 90 women pregnant at the moment. Waiouru women are still having to go elsewhere for their obstetric needs. The visiting obstetrician is fully booked until April. The meeting was informed that T aihape Health

Centre (THC) had employed a midwife who li ves in Waiouru as one of the 3.4 to cover the Taihape/ Waiouru area, but that this midwife had since resigned. The meeting continued on the maternity , theme, with the suggestion of an 0800 number being put in place to contact a midwife. Ruth Jensen, manager of THC, said there used to be an 0800 number. She said that in nine months there were only 1 0 calls and there had been problems with the PABX system. THC now has a new telephone system and the view of the people at the meeting, was that an 0800 should be looked into further, especially over the six month trial period. Ms Jensen said she would look into the matter. At present, people needing to contact a midwife must ring THC, who will then contact a midwife. The CHG will be sending out newsletters, to keep the community informed on health matters. Before the meeting was declared open, Garry Lough of the CHG, wanted to clear up a matter to do with an office for the new Health Social Worker and one for the Plunket seat rentals. Both services will operate out of the same office, so no-one is being moved.