Health group chiefs say they are "encouraged" and "cautiously optimistic" after attending the first community meeting held by the National Health Board panel, in Queenstown, on Tuesday night.
Wakatipu Health Governance Reference Group chairman Graeme Todd met the panel for the first time this week, due to earlier flight disruptions, and said the panellists were "well informed and clearly listening to what people were saying and the issues that were relevant".
Mr Todd said the reference group did not lodge suggestions for Wakatipu health services with panel chairman Dr Peter Foley and his team. They were brought up to date on the group's investigations into establishing a locally elected health trust responsible for delivering public healthcare.
Group members would continue to prepare its recommendation on governance and were happy to liaise with panelists, Mr Todd said.
The reference group, consisting of Wakatipu Health Trust trustee and chief executive Maria Cole, trustee Dr John Hillock, Queenstown Lakes district councillors Cath Gilmour and Russell Mawhinney and Queenstown businessman Kevin Peterson, was working on the public responses from their consultation, he said.
They will put together a proposal based on consultation and their draft for a charitable trust, called the Wakatipu Community Health Board, which was unveiled in early May. An update report was sent to the Queenstown Lakes District Council's community services committee.
The final report will go to the full council next week, then to both the NHB panel and Southern DHB.
Mrs Cole said yesterday while the small turnout of about 70 residents for Tuesday's meeting was not a surprise, it was pleasing to see a broader range of ages present compared with the mostly senior representation at the Southern DHB presentation, in early April.
Dr Foley said yesterday the meeting went well, in that the existence of the panel was well received by the community present. The chairman thought those attending understood the panel did not have a preconceived outcome, did not have any hidden agendas and had clear principles about equity of access and sustainability of services, financially and from a workforce viewpoint.
Asked what health services concerned those at the meeting, Dr Foley said "sexual health, maternity and aged care were mentioned, then also more general [comments] about the number of transfers out of the area".
Dr Foley said the next steps involved the three community drop-in forums next month.
Public forums
The National Health Board panel will be available in the Wakatipu on. -
• Friday, July 1, 11.30am to 1pm, St John Wakatipu ambulance station, Frankton.
• Friday, July 8, 10am to 12.30pm, Queenstown Lakes District Council meeting room.
• Friday, July 22, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, Queenstown Lakes District Council meeting room.
