Reefton Hospital

Press, 21 September 1988, Page 20

Reefton Hospital

Sir,—We learn that our Reefton hospital is to close. Our hospital provides services that in my experience are superior to those provided by large city hospitals. Our old people will be relocated 80km from family, friends and community. As well as the loss of essential services, the closing of Reefton Hospital will result in the loss of 67 jobs. In a town with high unemployment, already having suffered from corporatisation, falling school roll and business closings, this will be totally devastating. If the Government can subsidise the West Coast railway link, or pour millions of dollars into training schemes for jobs that do not exist, then it must intervene to ensure that our community hospital remains open. We have a right to local health and education services. The closing of our hospital would be another example of the killing of smalltown New Zealand by this powercrazy non-caring Government. — Yours, etc., (Ms) J. L. BYRES. September 12,1988.

Sir,—As the granddaughter of an early pioneer doctor in the Grey Valley, and in addition to being the recipient of care from the Reefton Hospital for myself and members of my family while still having family and friends there, £ too, deplore the closing of the hospital and feel strongly about the very severe hardship it will impose. Little, if anything, is remembered of the revenue that was obtained from the £BM

worth of gold that came from around Reefton, as well as the coal and timber which has contributed to the building of New Zealand. Surely the folk there are deserving of a better fate? — Yours, etc., RITA HUNTER. September 18, 1988. Sir,—The easy-way-out decision by the West Coast Hospital Board to close Reefton Hospital shows up the • inconsiderate, and almost ignorant, appreciation of its responsibility to the outlying areas. Beyond Reef ton and in the board’s territory more than 100 km of main roads exist that are subject to snow, ice, erosion and flooding, often hampering the efforts to get victims (expectant mothers, children, aged people, accident victims, etc.), to Reefton, let alone another 80km to Greymouth. The board’s admission of no liaison with Civil Defence and not taking up the challenge of per capita funding with the Government, to me points to pitiful administration. “Administration” — what about a cut there? We have witnessed enough public amenities removed from our country areas without the devastating situation that will occur with the demise of a facility seen to be so necessary by the late Hon. Mabel Howard. — Yours, etc.,

G. R. HAVILL. September 17, 1988.