Health services consultation started

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 601, 29 August 1995, Page 1

Health services consultation started

A public consultation process conceming inpatient services at Waimarino Health Centre has started, the Central Regional Health Authority (Central RHA) announced last week. This follows last month' s notice by Good Health Wanganui (GHW) of its intention to cease providing inpatient services, other than maternity,.at Waimarino Health Centre from 31 December 1995. Community services and outpatient clinics are not affected. The Central RHA has, in discussion with the Waimarino Health Task Force, developed a plan of consultation. "We have a six-month breathing space to plan for services, following Good Health Wanganui's decision," says contracts manager for the Central RHA, Stuart Macdonald. "We have a planning process that involves wide consultation with the local community. "We will be sending all households in the area a brochure explaining the steps in the planning process and how individuals and organisations can make their views known."

"These brochures will be delivered from Monday, 28 August." The important steps in the planning process are preparation of a paper setting out the options. This will be available to the public in midSeptember. There will be approximately five weeks from that time for - interested parties to prepare written submissions. A public meeting will be held on 1 2 October, a week before submissions close. There will also be an opportunity for oral submissions on 18 October. The Central RHA will announce its decision on 3 1 October, after which proposals for services will be sought from interested parties. "Good Health Wanganui's decision has raised some important questions about how we should provide health care for the people of Waimarino. We have no fixed ideas about how these services should be provided in the future as long as they meet our usual criteria of equity, access and quality, We are seeking an outcome that works for the community, providers and patients,' said Stuart Macdonald, Details of the public meeting, reminders about written submissions, etc, will be notified in local papers and/or by direct mail.