Community Health
It was great to be invited to say a few words at the start of the Levin Cosmopolitan Car Club Rally last weekend.
About 300 people turned out for the fundraiser around Horowhenua. Funds were raised for the Te Arohanui Hospice in Palmerston North to support patients with cancer. This amazing facility is well supported by families from the Horowhenua.
Another health service I’m vocal about is keeping the 24 beds at the Horowhenua Health Centre.
I’m very concerned that MidCentral District Health Board is considering cutting beds at the Horowhenua Health Centre. I know from my recent visit these beds are nearly always full and we need them in our community for the elderly and the general public.
At this stage it is still one of 30 cost-saving options being considered by the DHB, but I think it’s a very bad idea. I’ve met with the DHB in my Levin office and made my views clear.
I realise the MidCentral DHB is under tough financial pressure, but I don’t want to see our community lose these beds.
Last year they received an extra $26 million in funding from the Government, one of the biggest increases in the country. However they still have a big deficit and a lot of work to do.
It’s clear that things have to change, but removing these beds is not the answer.
I’m hopeful that more doctors may choose to locate at the Health Centre in the near future. This will help improve after hours care and move a step closer to the original intentions of how the centre was going to operate.
On a more positive note, the Capital and Coast District Health Board have produced a report on expanding the Kapiti Health Centre (KHC).
Last year I helped secure $10,000 for a full report on how we can integrate more services into the KHC.
Many local health providers are keen to get involved, but lack of space at the existing site is an issue. Options include expanding the building or getting the private sector involved.
This week the report was presented to the Kapiti Health Hub group and we are working up a business case to be presented to the Minister of Health Tony Ryall for his consideration.
Health is a big issue for me as local MP and our region. We have a high number of retired people here – 16,000 – and that number will only increase as our population ages and the region grows.
Kapiti is one of the fastest growing areas in New Zealand, with population growth expected to be 21% from 2006 to 2026. New roads, better transport and decent broadband will help facilitate this growth.
Having good local health services will be vitally important in the years to come.