Save our Health Service from Growing Bureaucracy
I was impressed when I visited the Mobile Surgical Bus at the Horowhenua Health Centre recently. What a fantastic vehicle. The bus is fully equipped for minor surgery and is able to move around the country with some very able and competent staff. While Levin is not as remote as the Far North or parts of the East Coast in terms of access to health services, we still have issues getting an appointment in the public health system. Hence, the bus’ visit was most welcome.
The difficulties some of our residents face getting appointments for both urgent and non-urgent procedures was highlighted last week when Cr Leigh Griffen-McMeeken said she was told she would have to wait 11 months for a follow-up procedure that Government guidelines say should be done within six weeks.
Probably by making a fuss and speaking out, Cr Griffen-McMeeken was bumped up the waiting list and will have her procedure this week. That’s great for her. But it is a sad indictment on the system that people have to go to so much trouble and go public about very private health issues to get things done.
No doubt her story is one many other people in our District have experienced and will continue to do so.
It is true that this Labour Government has thrown an extra $4 billion each year into the health system, and yet it is a system in crisis – recent reports on the state of the Capital & Coast DHB reinforce this.
Very little of this money appears to be getting to where it’s needed – looking after the patients. Apparently there’ll be 10,000 hospital managers within the year, 25% more than in 2000. This doesn’t include the 1250 Health Ministry bureaucrats, endless consultants as well as the managers in the 81 primary health organisations.
Apparently a bed that would have been used to carry out Cr Griffen-McMeeken’s procedure had arrived at the Horowhenua Health Centre, but it was unsuitable. Another has been ordered, but in the meanwhile she will have the procedure in Palmerston North. This seems poorly managed.
The Horowhenua Health Centre has had its fair share of problems since it was opened earlier this year. It is time that the issues bubbling away were sorted and perceptions of the centre and its delivery of health services to our community were improved.
On a more positive note, last week the Helipad was officially opened at the centre. This is fantastic news for our District. While we have a designated landing pad on Hokio Beach Rd it makes good sense to have a Helipad alongside the health centre.
The Square Trust Rescue Helicopter has saved many people’s lives in our district. Some of you may recall back in 2004-2005 the Labour Government wanted to scrap the service locally and move it to Wellington.
Horowhenua people fought back and more than 13,000 signed a petition that helped to save the services. The Rescue Helicopter is supported by a variety of community groups in and around our district. It was great to see Farmlands lend their support by presenting a $3000 cheque from a fundraising night to the Helicopters Trust. Well done.