End of health care's 'Golden Hour'?

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 601, 29 August 1995, Page 6

End of health care's 'Golden Hour'?

On a recent visit to Raetihi, it was brought vividly to my attention the lack of medical emergency assistance available at some times. Phoning 1 1 1 for an ambulance, one speaks to somebody in Palmerston North, who politely says an ambulance is "on the way". They give no indication as to how long it will be or where the ambulance will come from. The incident I was involved with, the ambulance came from Waiouru, and arrived approximately 40 minutes after the call. The local Waimarino ambulance arrived five minutes later. This ambulance had been to Wanganui and was on the way back when the call went through and was only on the Aberfeldys. The highly-trained ambulance officers are human and can only be in one place at a time. When the new hospital system is in place in the W aimarino the situation has the potential to become even worse. My past experience of the 1 1 1 system in the Waimarino was through the local hospital and was in my mind far more efficient. Hospital staff knew where the ambulance was, could identify the crises, locate the doctor on call and organise assistance all in a matter of minutes. I have even known staff to contact the police and traffic officers for assistance if the ambulance was already busy. My concems for the Waimarino community are that

'The Golden Hour' that is so important in a crisis is going to be non-existent in some cases. The people of the Waimarino area are being sold short and need to be fighting for at least a medical centre that is operational 24hours a day, 7-days a week. In a crisis, whether it be a sick child, somebody with a cardiac arrest or a serious accident, people on the Scene do not always have the time to be worrying about which doctor is on call and dialling several numbers, (if a phone is available) to get assistance. In a crisis situation, minutes are like hours. The geographical location of the Waimarino and the climatic conditions all need to be taken into consideration. While I realise changes are essential and inevitable they need to be for the better. If they are not for the better then the community needs to stand up and fight for what is their right, before they find themselves and their families in a crisis situation. I have seen Waimarino people pull together to raise funds to equip a rescue helicopter and improve the efficiency of their health serviee, so come on people join

together again. The bureaucrats in Wellington have never lived in places like the Waimarino, maybe they need to try it for a while, they may then be more understanding and would appreciate the situations that arise. Having lived in the Waimarino for 15 years and been involved in the health field, I know the importance of satisfactory emergency services. "Safety First" Wanganui Hospital snippets During my many years of association with the Post Office, holding the job of deputy registrar of births, deaths and marriages, I have one or two snippets regarding the Waimarino Hospital, of which not many of your readers will have heard: o Bom at that hospital were the following famous men: Ivan Mauger — multiple world dirt track champ; Johnny Devlin — rock and roll man; Pat O'Connor — world heavyweight wrestling champ; Mackey (orMackie) — the gent who organised the famous Mt Isa (miner's) strike. o The late Joe Hiroti, who, according to the "Unit History of the 28 Maori Battalion" was a hero during our Greek Campaign, came into my office to register the birth of a new baby. As was the custom he handed me the form to fill in and lolled back in a chair to look at the 'New Zealand Truth' he had just purchased. "What name do you want, Joe?" I asked. "Oh, anything", he replied. I glanced at his 'Truth', which ran a story (about a man) named, "Garth". This name I filled in and Joe was pleased, and signed up. Thirty-odd years later I was lying in our hospital, when I was approached by a handsome Maori, who introduced himself as "Garth Hiroti". As we shook hands Garth said to me, "I've been trying for years to catch up with the man, whom my father told me gave me my name!" Bill Hussey Concert thanks Ka nui taku mihi ki a koutou, nga tangata o te rohe nei, i o koutou awhina meo koutou tautoko o te Po Whakangahau i tera wiki. May I, through your paper, thank the many people who helped with and supported the concert held (recently) at (Ruapehu) College. This was truly a community effort and the children and young people obviously enjoyed their performances to a supportive audience. Through generous donations the college group travelling to Auckland for the National Manu Korero Speech Competitions are over $600 better off. Thank you very much. Kati ra, Naku na,

Merrilvn

Georee.

Kaiwhakahaero o Nga Manu Korero o te rohe o Whanganui me Taranaki. ( Coordinator for the region Whanganui-Taranaki ).