Graeme Storer

It was encouraging to see so many people turn out for last Saturday’s hikoi for health in response to the closing of Whakatāne Hospital's obstetrics and gynaecology services.

Understandably, people are worried that this will lead to the deaths of pregnant women and babies.

East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick, speaking at the hikoi, stated that the current situation at Whakatāne Hospital was being driven by staffing and operational issues and by the centralisation of decision-making introduced by the previous government.

She did not mention the deep cuts made to public service budgets by this Government, cuts that appear to be based on a value-for-money model that excludes consideration of equity and accessibility.

These are important concerns for our poorly served rural and remote communities here in the Eastern Bay. As one poster summed up: “It’s a bloody long drive” (to Tauranga).

It’s hard to remain optimistic when the PM expects the new minister for health to be “ruthlessly focused” on fixing things. The resignations of three senior NZ Health executives within a week is not a good sign.