Letters 16 September
Integrated family health centre
A big “Thank You” to the many people who signed either of the two petitions about proposed health system changes in Golden Bay during the last three weeks.
The final results are not fully checked, but I did take the preliminary results to the public forum of the Golden Bay Community Health-Te Haoura O Mohua Trust last Friday 9 September.
Sadly, the trustees, all members of the IMG, through their chairperson Chris Hill refused to accept the concerns that so many of you declared by signing the equivalent of twenty eight (28) full pages of the petition stating “We, the undersigned, have concerns about the IMG’s restructuring the Golden Bay health system.”
These concerns appear to be of no interest what-so-ever to this trust.
Chairperson Hill further declared that the roughly four (4) full pages of signatures to the “We the undersigned are happy to allow the IMG to plan the restructuring of the Golden Bay health system” were a mere drop in the bucket of the people who support them.
This may be true, but it is sad that those of us who have very real concerns and questions are not being listened to.
Liza Eastman
I am writing to correct a misconception created by Victoria Davis. She has referred to my interest in the Golden Bay health service changes as due to me being “under heavy pressure to reduce his budget”.
On a number of occasions Ms Davis and her supporters have been informed that there is no reduction in the district health board’s budget, or its financial commitment to Golden Bay, arising from the changes.
Through your paper I would like to place on record once and for all that the DHB’s interest in the integration of services in Golden Bay is not linked to cost reduction and to emphasise our commitment to maintaining the level of funding that is currently provided.
Our motivation is quite simply to ensure that all the services currently available to Golden Bay residents remain available to them in a sustainable way into the future; something that is highly unlikely to be possible without integration.
The IMG was formed, by a consortium that actually represented nine different interest groups, not just by myself and the GP, as stated by Ms Davis.
John Peters, chief executive,
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
Integration is a new approach to health care but one carefully thought through by scores of Golden Bay health professionals and community representatives over the past decade. By combining facilities and pooling our resources we can take a different approach that is financially sound. The IFHC will replace both a medical centre no longer fit for purpose and a rest home that is not financially viable - a problem faced by most other small rest homes around the country.
As Joan Whiting trustees know, their business is not sustainable and the home is only being kept open by special top-up funding from the Ministry of Health until the IFHC opens. Joan Whiting is mortgaged to the hilt and has no access to further funding – it has literally been living on borrowed time, using up its remaining equity over several years.
Mr Yuill (GBW 9/9) is incorrect with regard to both the interest rate and mortgage repayments he quotes. The money to finance this Golden Bay community-owned asset will not come from staff wage cuts – everyone is being transferred on the same pay and conditions. Efficiencies achieved by combining three operations will mean there will be a small reduction in the total number of staff over time.
The money spent so far on specialist advisers is in line with the levels paid for a professionals as a normal part of constructing a building of this type. [abridged]
Interim Management Group
Extraordinary meeting
Just to say I take my hat off to TDC Cr Martine Bouillir for being a staunch Golden Bay advocate. At a recent extraordinary meeting of TDC. I happened to attend the meeting as a resident and she took the lead in an attempt to discuss the issue in open debate.
Sad to say it was decided by a majority of those present to eject the public and go behind closed doors.
Much could be said about the changes in the wind for local government but I for one feel confident we have someone with a level head and passion to speak out on our behalf.
Yours for the cause.
Mike Rodwell
Decision to employ a CEO
It is staggering to read in a TDC media release that a 7-5 council majority decided to recruit a new CEO before there is clarity on the future of the council.
When the previous CEO retired, a manager acted in the role for several months. With the present CEO’s departure there is no reason why this couldn’t happen again. No doubt the mayor and council majority will be lost without CEO reports to rubber stamp.
However, “governance” is about “strong effective leadership”. The $112,800pa mayoral pay is for more than ribbon-cutting.
Mr Kempthorne reportedly seeks to continue to abdicate governance responsibility by stating “council was looking for a new chief executive because it needed strong effective leadership”. That is the role of elected representatives, not employees. If mayor and council majority cannot do the governance job they should also resign.
As five councillors realised, making a CEO appointment at this time makes no sense. It is like planting a lethal landmine of cost.
The mayor and council majority are strongly advised to read Local Government Act s44 (1) (a) and (c) and s46 regarding “liability for loss” and rescind their ill-considered decision.
Joe Bell
Democratic outcomes
Joe Bell’s (GBW 9/9) assurance that democracy would be well served by mayors and councillors appointed by their peers is unjustifiable.
The idea turns the democratic ideal on its head. Carry it to its logical conclusion and the final stage is for the mayors of the country to collectively appoint the next level of administration, the show ponies who inhabit the beehive, thus eliminiating the most extravagant presidential style lottery of them all, and relieving the electorate of the burden of having to vote for anything at al.
The philosophy driving this proposal is the breathtaking assumption that “we know best” this being a valid reason to disenfrancise the voter, and have community boards as the kingmakers. If there really is a need to find better democratic outcomes, this is not the answer. It is a social experiment that deserves to be quietly buried.
Jeff Allen
World Day of Action
Saturday 24 September is a World Day of Action to highlight the dangers of fossil fuel burning. Golden Bay is staging a footpath march at 2pm, meeting at the little park beside the museum in Takaka. Design a placard and join this march in solidarity to say that reducing fossil fuel burning is the one big thing we can do to halt the progress of climate change.
Recent approval was given to develop an open-cast coal mine on the pristine, DOC-managed Denniston Plateau, near the Stockton mine on the West Coast, and currently Solid Energy has a consented proposal to excavate huge deposits of a material between coal and peat (known as lignite) from under farmland in Southland. This lignite proposal has been investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright who says it is a very bad idea, yet both of these proposals are supported by our Government.
Coal is the dirtiest and most carbon-intense of all the fossil fuels. This march will be one of many actions around New Zealand on the day to highlight to our Government the urgent message for reducing fossil fuel use.
Jo-Anne Vaughan
Mobile surgical unit
I would like to acknowledge the care and efficiency of both the hospital staff and the medical team of the “bus” that is the Mobile Surgical Unit, that was here at the beginning of this month, which provides us with a very privileged option in rural medicine.
It is a brilliant service and I would recommend anyone to whom this service is made available for minor surgery to take advantage of the opportunity. The care given was excellent.
Helen Wendt
Swimming club
Summer is coming and Golden Bay Swimming Club is getting ready for it. It looks like we will have a heated pool again thanks to a TDC grant and support of the high school. It will be an effort to get it all going by early November, but watch this space. What we do need is some more volunteer coaches. If you have some skill to offer in coaching 7- to 10-year-olds learn-to-swim classes we would love to hear from you. We are also keen to hear if you can coach older swimmers and even a masters group. There are training courses and manuals available and the club covers all costs. Please contact me on 525 7410. Let’s get ready for summer.
Marian Milne
Menopause session for women change of date
Due to unexpected circumstances the date of the Menopause Information Session for Women will now be held on Thursday 27 October and not on the earlier date. See ad in this edition of The GB Weekly. Please contact Wendy at Heartlands 525 6151 to book in.
Wendy Earle
Spring Market
This Sunday Fresh FM and HANDS will be hosting a Spring Market and live music at the Workcentre (no dogs please) in Takaka from 11am to 2pm. Live-to-air concert from 1pm featuring DJ Galanjah, Mohua Sun, The Black Spots and hosted by Martine Bouillir. Tune into Fresh FM 104.8 or 95.0.
Paddy Brennan
