On Saturday March 27th, the Trust supported by QLDC, hosted a community Health Forum which enabled all members of the community a chance to learn more about the future options for Lakes District Hospital as outlined in the DHB Consultation document "Delivering Wakatipu Health Services in the Future".
For the last three years, the Trust has been campaigning for a number of changes to Lakes District Hospital - specifically for the creation of a local community board of governance for LDH, greater transparency in funding, more equitable access to health services relative to other regional hospitals across New Zealand, as well as a major capital upgrade of the hospital. Whilst the DHB apear to have been listening to some of the issues raised by the Trust, the proposed radical shakeup of the way services would be delivered in Queenstown is something the Trust believes will have major ramifications for the community and as such, felt it was imperative that everyone in the community be made fully aware of the facts and have the opportunity to contribute their thoughts and opinions on the issues through an independent consultation process - the Health Forum being selected as the most suitable format for this process.
The event was hosted by an out of town independent MC, Mr George Berry who is also Chairman of the Oamaru Hospital Board and was formally opened by Mayor Clive Geddes who presented on Queenstown's unique growth and the issues that emanate from such growth.The DHB attended and CEO Brian Rousseau presented their proposed new concept for Queenstown. Mr Chris Fraser, the author of the Health Needs Assessment commissioned by the Trust last year, confirmed likely health service requirements based on current usage and future growth projections. The Trust then presented its views on the DHB Consultation paper which included both the positive elements as well as a number of areas of serious concern.
After the presentations, the audience was divided into five focus groups, each headed by an independent Moderator and assisted by a Recorder. Each group was asked a specific set of questions and a majority vote through a show of hands was taken. For results of these questions see below. These questions gave rise to a much larger group of questions and issues/concernns, all of which were recorded. These are being collated into an "issues paper" which will be worked through by a taskforce comprising the Trust, the DHB, hospital Clinical representation and representation from Council.
The day included both morning and afternoon sessions and was well attended by approximately four hundred people. The Trust has received much positive feedback following the Forum and was pleased with the level of community engagement as well as the continuing endorsement of the Trust's activities on behalf of the community.
As the Trust has no funding of its own, the Health Forum would not have been possible without the generous support from a number of people who gave of their own time on a gratis basis. These include Mr George Berry and Graeme Todd who contributed both on the day as well as behind the scenes. Mr Martin Hawes, Simon Hayes, Craig Benington, David Cole, John Matthews, Phil Wilson and Jay Cassells performed as Moderators. The Trust also acknowledges the valuable assistance of a number of other volunteers who assisted the Moderators as Recorders, responsible for noting all questions and concerns raised.
The event was sponsored and funded by the very generous support of a number of organisations which the Trust gratefully acknowledges including: Mountain Scene, Mediaworks Radio, Ngai Tahu Tourism Limited, Macalister Todd Phillips, Wilkinson's Pharmacy, Ballarat Holdings, Blanket Bay Lodge, Mark Taylor, Vivian & Espie, Bungy New Zealand Group, Mc Culloch & Partners, Good Group Linmited and Mr Sam Neill.
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