Snow prompted the Southern District Health Board to cancel
Meals on Wheels in Dunedin yesterday for the first time Wendy
Patterson could recall in the 28 years she had been helping
the service.
The Otago Age Concern driver co-ordinator said it was a "wee
bit sad" the service was cancelled, as usually on snow days
Otago's Land Rover Owners Club, along with the better
equipped driver volunteers, ensured the meals got through.
Mrs Patterson said she had been advised early yesterday a
shortage of staff because of the conditions meant the DHB had
to prioritise its hospital patient meals.
The DHB had also indicated it required the four-wheel-drive
club's assistance for other services.
Mrs Patterson said she accepted the DHB had had to make the
call, and make it early enough to get the word out.
She had fielded a small number of calls from people wondering
where their meal was, but most had presumably heard the
cancellation notices on local radio stations.
On previous snow days, recipients often expressed surprise
and delight upon receiving their meal, and she expected those
affected yesterday had not been greatly put out.
Community support services general manager Elaine Chisnall,
through a DHB spokeswoman, said the service was cancelled
because of the treacherous road conditions and road closures.
"[Age Concern] organises transport as part of their contract
but ... the conditions were too hazardous today to deliver
meals."
She confirmed fewer staff were available to prepare meals,
but this had not forced the cancellation.
Meals on Wheels was not an "emergency service".
On the Taieri, meals were prepared locally by service
organisations by agreement with the DHB.
Mosgiel district provider, Taieri Court Rest Home, was able
to deliver 74 of its 75 meals, with just one person missing
out because of the snow, food service manager, Diane Todd,
said.
Many "thrilled" recipients had rung to praise the service for
delivering the noon meal, as they had not expected to get it.
In greater Dunedin, including Palmerston, about 200 Meals on
Wheels are prepared each day.
eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
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