Doctor found for Raetihi

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 47, 12 May 1987, Page 1

Doctor found for Raetihi

Raetihi has finally procured a doctor to take over the practice left vacant by Henry Plant since November. He is Jim Corbett, who decided on Friday to take the practice. Dr Corbett is expected to take up the position in midNovember — he is committed to locum work in the Auckland district until then. Dr Corbett has 5-6 years of experience and holds a degree in obstetrics. He and his family will be living in the residence provided by the Wanganui Area Health Board. His wife has lived in the Waimarino area before and previously taught in Ohakune. The locum who is bridging the gap between now and November is Jonathon Jones, originally from Godalming, Surrey, who has been in New Zealand for 6 months. Dr Jones decided to take on the practice after making a special trip from Auckland over the weekend. He said he is prepared to stay until the permanent doctor arrives. He heard of the vacant through associate Henry Plant while at Kingseat Hospital, South Auckland. His qualifications include a Dip. Child Health, Dip. Royal College Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, NBCHB (general doctor's degree) and a Family Planning Certificate. While he is here for the experience, he is also keen to try skiing and plans to enjoy the outdoor life, as well as

making use of the squash facilities in Raetihi. Dr Jones said he forsees no difficulties in building the practice back up after six months of dormancy when patients transferred to the Ohakune surgery or further afield. Dr Henry Plant said he was extremely pleased with the appointment and stated that Dr Jones "practices a very high standard of medicine." Raetihi Mayor Garrick Workman expressed relief that the position is to be filled and commended Wanganui Area Health Board representative Dorothy Scarrow for her efforts in attracting a permanent doctor to the area. Dr Corbett has indicated

that he may be prepared to take the practice on for a long period of time, after being very impressed by the area and the doctor's facilities. Dr Jones will be moving into the practice on 25 May and appointments are being taken at Price's Pharmacy in Raetihi. Dr Jones said he hopes to work at the Waimarino Hospital if he gains approval from the Wanganui Area Health Board. Last week's TV coverage The Raetihi doctor issue was raised on Television NZ screens last week when several concerned local citizens and Dr Charles Noble of Wanganui were interviewed in the 'Today Tonight' seg-

ment of the evening news programme. Accompanied by spectacular aerial views of Raetihi township and the Waimarino Hospital, television viewers heard expressions of concern about the doctorless situation in Raetihi which has existed since Dr Henry Plant left in November. Dr Charles Noble, a Wanganui surgeon, said that the appointment of a doctor in Raetihi had been blocked by bureaucratic interference and he asked for a full independent enquiry as to why Dr Eva of South Africa never completed his immigration requirements. cont'd page 10

Raetihi Doctor cont'd from page 1

Concern was expressed that, with the approach of the 1987 ski season, there would be a struggle to make do with inadequate medical facilities in the Waimarino ... described by the TV reporter as: likely to be a real winter of discontent for Raetihi unless a doctor was appointed. Jenny Dekker, Raetihi School dental nurse and chairperson of the Waimarino Area Helath Watch Committee, spoke of the extra pressure put on the Waimarino's only civilian

doctor in Ohakune, Dr Perera, since the departure of Dr Plant. "The Ohakune doctor has been doing a marvellous job but people in Raetihi have been missing out on regular medical checks, bloodpressure tests and immunisation programmes," she said, " as they waited for a doctor to be appointed." Raetihi School principal, Geoff Lovegrove, said that the lack of a doctor was "shabby" and his staff were "very annoyed" not to have the services of a local doctor

to administer medical attention when required. "We should be able to call on a doctor for our children," he said. Lynette Price of Price's Pharmacy in Raetihi explained that during the 4day period over Easter the Waimarino was without a doctor at all. "The nearest one was in Waiouru — a half-hours drive away — while" anything more serious has to go by ambulance to Wanganui ... an hour and a quarter's drive away on that absolutely terrible road," she said.