Maternity beds alone not enough, says board

Ruapehu Bulletin, 11 July 1995, Page 1

Maternity beds alone not enough, says board

All present inpatient services must be retained in the Waimarino, not just maternity services as promised by Good Health Wanganui, the Waimarino Community Board decided last week (see separate story Page 3). The board voted unanimously to "endorse all moves to retain the present health services' in the Waimarino". At the request of Ruapehu District mayor Garrick Workman, they also voted to support the actions of the Waimarino Community Health Taskforce. Although the meeting was advertised as open, just two members of the public attended which was a disappointment, said board member Bob Peck. "I' m concerned that only two people are here. If Waimarino people are so concerned about this health issue then they should be here," said Mr Peck. "I hope the spirit and will of the local people haven't been flattened." Mr Workman gave the board a brief

summary of the actions to date with regard to the cuts in health services in the Waimarino. He said he and the taskforce had made it very clear to the Central Regional Health Authority that the people of the Waimarino had moved as far as they were prepared to go on the provision of health services. "We as a community had moved as required so that adequate services could be provided (in accepting the closure of the Waimarino Hospital and the building of a new, smaller health centre). The trade-off was in that some services would be provided in the community. "We are relieved and thankful, although we shouldn't need to feel relieved and thankful, that Good Health Wanganui is going to retain the maternity service in the Waimarino. Now we have to ensure that CRHA understands that we have to retain those (two) general beds as well," he told the board. Turn to Page 2

Hospital beds

FROMPAGEl GHW preferred Mr Workman said the preferred option was for GHW to provide health services in the Waimarino by pressuring the CRHA but that if this was impossible other options were: that a community trust be formed; that the council run a health centre; that general practitioners set up a health service centre. Board member John Compton raised another possibility when he asked if other crown health enterprises such as Midland or Manawatu had been approached. Mr Workman said he had discussed the matter with the chairman of Manawatu but that he couldn't divulge the outcome of that discussion. He said it would probably be more difficult for Manawatu to provide services to the Waimarino because of the extra distance. Mr Workman said it was clear to him from the meeting in W anganui that mayor Chas Poynter was very keen to see GHW retain the rural areas such as Waimarino. "Chas Poynter can see that if Waimarino went elsewhere Taihape and Marton could follow and where would the Wanganui urban area be then — would it be a viable business unit on its own?" asked Mr Workman. Game pawns Mr Workman was critical of the way GHW chief executive Ron Janes had handled the issue publicly, trying to force the RHA to provide more money. "I'm not happy that we have been caught out as pawns in this game," he said. Board members asked how it could save money to transport people out of the area for health services. "How can it be cost-effective to build a new centre in Raetihi, then ship people off to Taihape that' s got a similar building to our old one," asked board chairman Colin Webb. Mr Peck said it was now the patient who paid for the ambulance trip. "Isn't there a requirement for GHW, a responsibility to provide services? How can they just chop us off?" asked Winston Oliver. Mr Workman said GHW was saying they could provide the services in a different way, through Taihape or Wanganui. Transport problems for families Bob Peck asked if social issues such as family visits for patients are taken into account when health service decisions are made. He said a poor family would find it impossible to travel to Taihape or Wanganui to visit a patient, both because of the cost and the isolation and lack of public transport. He said for both Wanganui andTaihape it would be necessary for a patient's family to stay overnight, just to be able to visit them, unless they had their own transport. He said the train to Taihape cost $36 for one person. "How can a family afford to visit their loved one in hospital," he asked. Mr Peck said that all five beds at Waimarino were occupied on the night of the meeting and that they were all patients who would suffer if transported to other hospitals. He said he believed Auckland visitors would be appalled to learn that there were no hospital beds available here, when they visit the ski fields. "We haven't heard anything from the people from the CHE or the RHA that refers to people and not just dollars," he stated. Mr Workman said he believed they could change the RHA's mind if they packaged the information correctly. "If a service is able to be provided locally then it should be provided locally it's as simple as that," he stated. 'Taihape can't provide any better service than we can here. This is the area that is developing. This is the area that requires the services," he said.