Sunday 18 July 2010

The Editor

Greymouth Star

Dear Editor

The planned reduction of neurological services to just one South island Hospital (Star 22 June) recalls the health authority maps I saw many years ago showing the travelling distances/times from all South Island districts to just two hospitals, Dunedin and Christchurch. While little has since been heard of this matter it was felt at the time by health campaigners that centralisation was the long-term intention of the powers-that-be  so that progressively fewer services would be provided outside of Christchurch and Dunedin. Now the centralisation mania extends to even cutting out either Dunedin or Christchurch for neurological services which both hospitals are presently providing.

I note that "all" South Island DHBs agreed to this proposal. It would be interesting to know just how many individual board members from those DHBs are for and against such an agenda - or if they were even asked - and if they were, was it put to a vote recorded in their meeting minutes?

On the same page of the Star a report appeared under the heading "DHB downscales to save money". This described a "planned reduction in activity" in elective surgery and "non-essential" support services at the Wellington DHB. "Non-essential" to whom, I wonder? Similar reports are coming in from all around New Zealand.

On the West Coast the Star (30 June) reported shortages of "anaesthetists,  surgeons and general physicians". Further, that "the two long-term anaesthetists.... are overseas and the board is also having to plan for a reduction in the availability of anaesthetists to be flown in from South Africa". What a tragedy that they got rid of three outstanding anaesthetists under Kevin Hague's management regime!

It is becoming clearer that centralisation/reduced services are on National's agenda every bit as much as the previous Labour government.

David Tranter

Health spokesman

N.Z. Democrats for Social Credit