Health
The health and wellbeing of all Kapiti and Horowhenua residents is a key focus of mine and the new National Government is focused making the health system better for all patients.
The Otaki electorate has the largest percentage of over 65 year olds in New Zealand, so our health demands are unique. We are also serviced by two District Health Boards - MidCentral DHB and Capital & Coast DHB which means travelling to either Wellington or Palmerston North Hospitals.
This makes transport a huge issue. It was great to see the Health Transport Shuttle launched in Kapiti last week. The New Zealand Red Cross has provided a vehicle for transporting people to outpatient appointments at Wellington Hospital which is fantastic. The service is aimed at the more vulnerable people in the community who find it difficult to attend these appointments. The Horowhenua Shuttle has been a great success over the past 15 months to Palmerston North and the challenge for both these DHB’s is to provide more outpatient services at the Horowhenua and Kapiti Health Centres to allow patients to be seen closer to home.
Most provincial areas of New Zealand have a doctor shortage and we are no different. That’s why National has launched a voluntary bonding scheme for doctors who commit to stay here for at least three years. The scheme does apply to us, once the graduates complete their two year hospital stint and then choose general practice as their ‘hard to staff’ specialty.
The $10,000 student loan write off per year - paid to medical graduates after three years employment – should provide enough incentive to attract more graduates into general practice. Kapiti and Horowhenua will benefit from this and it should also help to reduce the massive exodus of kiwi-trained doctors overseas.
As a young parent I know how important it is to get sound medical advice on the phone when my kids are sick. Funding the continuation of PlunketLine as a 24-hour/seven day a week service has pleased many parents by providing an initial health diagnosis over the phone by trained nurses.
There are many challenges in the health sector and I will continue to advocate on your behalf to make improvements to the health and wellbeing of our great region.