Letters 19 March 2010
Holistic approach to health
I was interested in reading the recent business article about Dr Bloom (GBW 12/3). Here is a learned man trained in Western medicine embracing the holistic approach. A doctor who has taken himself beyond his traditional scope of practice to incorporate other specialist modes of practice, including acupuncture, prolotherapy, nutritional supplements, Chinese herbs and metabolic cleansing, and lifestyle recommendations.
This is a true “integrated” health approach. Healthcare is more efficient when an integrated holistic approach is followed.
The Golden Bay integrated health facility is a misnomer; it focuses solely around a Western medical model. It is incorrect to think that true integration of healthcare can be created through the combination of the three existing premises where the practice of Western medicine occurs, ie the medical centre, hospital and rest home.
Western medicine has some successful techniques, though we need to recognise its limitations and utilise the benefits of other medical modalities, including their history, theoretical basis and treatment methods. To maximise the health potential for our community the new Golden Bay health facility needs to take a more integrated approach with the inclusion of traditionally trained acupuncturists, ayurvedic doctors and homoeopaths.
Daniel Judd, Nat Dip Acup, Dip ChbT
Swimming - only a summer joy?
Are you one of the many individuals or families enjoying the “luxury” of pool swimming - for gravity defying, heart and lung exercise, or just for family fun?
Do we need to get our legs kicking and arms stroking to explore the feasibility of a “covered facility in the Bay” Expressions of interest as a starting point to explore positive action. Phone me on 525 9547.
Ann Jones
Craniosacral
If you are spending money on an alternative therapy designated craniosacral, which is postulated on the claim that palpation of the cranial sutures can have a beneficial effect on something called the craniosacral “rhythm” or “pulse” independent of other measurable body rhythms (heart rate or respiration), consider following the link below, which is a detailed assessment of the therapy by the BC Office of Health Technology Assessment. This systematic review found that there is insufficient scientific evidence to recommend craniosacral therapy to patients, practitioners or third party payers for any clinical condition.
“The literature on craniosacral therapy does not include any high grade evidence, such as random controlled trials, of its effects on health outcomes. The evidence that is available is of poor methodological quality, is highly variable, lacks consistency and does not allow any logical “positive” conclusions regarding craniosacral therapy.”
http://chspr.ubc.ca/files/publications/1999/bco99-01J_cranio.pdf
In future notes I intend to direct the reader to studies debunking other egregious therapies, such as homeopathy.
Peter Bridgwater
Proposed integrated health facility
Please refer to the paid advertisement on page 5 submitted by the integrated management group in response to last week’s paid advertisement by nursing and allied staff.
Marg Braggins, manager GB Weekly
It was with trepidation I read the advertisement headed “Important” (GBW 12/3). Our very hard-working district nurses are an integral part of our community; the work they do is invaluable. My family, having been on the receiving end of their care and kindness, will always be grateful, and I myself for their ongoing care.
Ellen Petterson
After reading last week’s GB Weekly I am very concerned about integrated health services and the lack of information or public input. Please remember the consumers are very interested and concerned, but these fears could be uninformed or very real. Do not forget us as we may hold the strings to a big purse.
Shirley Nalder
Joyce and I strongly oppose privatisation of our primary care and hospital, and support nursing and allied staff in their concerns over this issue.
Roy and Joyce Bradley
I am concerned about the likely impact of the integrated health scheme on the nurses and allied health staff’s livelihood and conditions of work. Many people may not be aware that integration of services will mean that staff jobs will be collapsed and they will have to reapply for them. I understand this is what happened at Motueka.
Putting all services together in one building will mean not so many staff will need to be employed. Does this mean that maternity nurses will be looking after babies, general patients and the elderly, thereby increasing the likelihood of cross-infection for the vulnerable? Does it mean that the elderly person on a pan has to wait while a baby is delivered or when there is an acute emergency? Does it mean that there will be fewer registered nursing staff and more less-qualified staff who are cheaper to employ?
My other concern is the loss of public/state ownership of our health service in the Bay. Our forebears worked and sacrificed much for all of us to have good public health.
Wendy M Croft
The advertisement from the nurses employed in Golden Bay regarding the health service integration (GBW 12/3) must be a cause of concern to all residents of Golden Bay.
It is important that the community speaks out to retain a fully publicly-paid health service that provides for the payment of all nursing and auxiliary staff.
Can this district financially support the proposed system should DHB funding be withdrawn sometime in the future? This is the first step towards a private health provider that we will end up losing if it becomes unaffordable.
A public meeting is needed urgently so that the integration committee put facts before the public and take note of the concerns being expressed by many in our community.
We fully support the nurses in making their concerns known and urge the community to support them as without their services we will not have a health service that we enjoy today.
Roy and Merle Reid
Thank you all of the nursing staff who put their jobs on the line and gave us a sharp warning about the plans of the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (GBW 12/3). We need to take notice of these people and fight for the continuation of the publicly funded primary health system. We don’t want it privatised in Golden Bay. The current system with its great staff has been very good to my family and hundreds of families in Golden Bay. Don’t let those number-crunchers and creative accountants stuff it up.
Tony Sandall
I am in great admiration for the nurses and health professionals who are responsible for the advertisement (GBW 12/3). On talking with some of them it would seem that their concern is very real. For a start there has been no discussion with the “service” personnel over the proposed new building and upon viewing the architect’s impression last week they were astounded at some of the impractical scenarios in the design. It would seem, initially at least, that the DHB will provide for the services and the PHO trust will administer the building . That is all fine for the moment, but how long can the DHB keep up the financial input, given all we have heard about the state of their finances recently? If a trust cannot make Joan Whiting Hospital work, how does this one think it will be able to provide the people of Golden Bay with an accepted quality of health care? Can the PHO guarantee they can keep it all viable for the years to come? People have said they don’t want to comment until they “know more about it”, but we perhaps may not get a chance. 12 April is the date for the presentation of the proposal for the building and staffing configuration – we may be told then that it is already done and dusted.
The health professionals don’t want privatisation, they want government to maintain a hand on the whole situation – do you? Get behind our brave nurses and health professionals because if they are concerned, WE should be.
Jill Pomeroy
I was in general practice in Golden Bay for over 30 years. When my wife and I decided to emigrate from UK over 40 years ago we chose New Zealand because it had a publicly funded health service which was very important to us. I would like to commend the nurses of Golden Bay for pointing out in G B Weekly last week that this could change if some proposals go ahead. I think that publicly funded hospitals and medical care should be maintained.
A J Pearson, retired GP
John Lee’s letter, Andrew Swanson Dobbs’ IMG Statement (GBW 5/3) and Vic Eastman’s letter (GBW 12/3) are perturbing and give cause for concern regarding Golden Health health and project planning.
Now “out of the blue” comes a combined statement from Golden Bay Community Hospital staff members (GBW 12/3). Where are our other GPs and our political representatives in all this? Why are they standing in the wings?
Revelations coming to light: 1) NMDHB is about to withdraw services from Golden Bay. 2) the PHO is to provide reduced support to our community health service. 3) A privatised building is to be built to house all services. As no site has been agreed to, should it be a relocatable building?
Warren Iggo
Access to Ballroom Cave
As a result of my letter last week on the 4WD access to the Ballroom Cave and the goldfields, there is good news.
Firstly, the 4WD track is on DOC-administered land. I am advised that DOC has not the funding to maintain this track. However, they have given me the opportunity to raise funds to hire a bulldozer or front-end digger to grade this access and make it available for average recreational 4WD vehicles.
The opportunity for those of us in the tourist industry to add to the visitor experience a safe driveable trip up to the caves is one to make happen.
To this end I would like to invite accommodation facilities, sight-seeing operators and tour guides to help raise funds to hire a bulldozer or grader to address this 4WD access from the Devil’s Boots car park to the DOC sign “10 minute walk to caves” sign, to the Ballroom Cave.
The on-going maintenance funding would have to come from an honesty box at the first gate inviting say a $5 fee per person to drive up the track.
Please contact me (ph 524 8717) with offers or ideas to make this happen.
Reg Turner
Medical centre’s call for trustees
In last week’s edition of The GB Weekly a public notice was placed calling for expressions of interest from people wishing to be considered for appointment as a trustee of the Golden Bay Medical Centre Community Trust.
The trust manages the council-owned land and buildings in order to support the delivery of health services for communities within Golden Bay. It does this primarily through the provision and maintenance of a location within the area. The trust does not manage the doctor’s practice at the Edinburgh Street location but accrues the financial returns from the lease of the property to ensure its maintenance, and to provide for further health benefits and opportunities in Golden Bay.
The trustees, appointed for a three-year term starting in April this year, meet regularly to manage the property and its returns, on behalf of the beneficiaries, namely the people of Golden Bay. The call for expressions of interest closes on 6 April. All aspiring trust members should express their interest in writing giving their name, address, telephone number and occupation to me at 35 Selwyn Street, RD1, Takaka 7183.
Graeme Hall, secretary,
Golden Bay Medical Centre Community Trust
