Raetihi Doctor

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 43, 14 April 1987, Page 6

Raetihi Doctor

The current debacle regarding Raetihi's doctor reinforces, perhaps more than anything else, the widely held view in the Waimarino that we should be part of a central (volcanic) plateau authority rather than be linked by a single, narrow, winding and sometimes dangerous 90km road (the Parapara) to a city on the coast. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the present doctorless situation in Raetihi — and we have read in this journal as well as others of procrastination, bureaucratic ineptitude and even possible victimisation — in failing to appoint a replacement for Dr Henry Plant who vacated the Raetihi practice in September of last year, the situation for us who live in the Waimarino is serious and deserves urgent attention. At the present time we in the Waimarino have one civilian doctor covering an area between Waiouru, Wanganui, Turangi and Taumarunui — a vast geographical rtgion with a permanent population in excess of 3,000 and a winter population occasionally exceeding 7,000. What makes the situation even more ridiculous is that, as I understand it, any doctor appointed to the Waima-

rino by the Wanganui Hospital Board is obliged, under Wanganui Hospital Board regulations, to refer patients requiring hospital treatment to Wanganui rather than to our nearest hospital — Taumarunui — which is so under-utilised that they are currently conducting a campaign through the media inviting patients from all over New Zealand. Taumarunui Hospital has a fully qualified and competent medical, surgical and nursing staff with a deservedly high reputation in this area. It is only 80kms from either Raetihi or Ohakune on a reasonably wide straight road which can be covered in 50 minutes compared with the 1 hour 20 minute 90km journey through the Paraparas.

What's more, there is a twice-daily bus and train service each way between Taumarunui and the Waimarino which would enable friends and relatives of patients admitted to the Taumarunui Hospital to visit without incurring an overnight expense. The sooner the doctorless situation in Raetihi is remedied the better for all concerned (including, I presume, the continued viability of the pharmacy in Raetihi) but the answer may be to look elsewhere other than towards our coastaldwelling neighbours to the south such as the Wanganui Hospital Board, the Wanganui United Council or whoever makes these appointments and decisions.

'Argus' Ohakune