With two community forums being held tomorrow, to discuss the future of health services in Wakatipu, reporter Joanne Carroll took to the streets to canvass public opinion on the Southland District Health Board's proposed shake up of healthcare services.
Changes need to be made to the healthcare services in Queenstown, residents spoken to by the Queenstown Times said.
In a street poll, most people said they did not have faith in the services provided at an under-funded Lakes District Hospital and changes were long overdue.
They also said more information about the Southland District Health Board's proposed shake-up of Wakatipu health services was needed.
George Glasheen said, when he broke his neck last year he had to be flown by helicopter to Invercargill and then Christchurch.
"They just put me in a room [at Lakes District Hospital] and called the chopper. There was nothing they could do for me there. I have no confidence in the place," he said.
Lakes District Hospital needed to be upgraded with more facilities.
"Changes are long overdue. They just don't have the facilities at Lakes [District Hospital]. We've just had a wee baby and had no confidence in Lakes so we went to Invercargill. I'm not saying it's the staff. The hospital is understaffed and just doesn't have facilities," he said.
He commended Queenstown Medical Centre for its services and hoped it would move into the proposed Integrated Family Health Centre.
He would be attending the forum tomorrow organised by the Wakatipu Health Trust.
Stephanie Robinson said changes needed to be made to the current system but she had some concerns about the proposals. She was concerned the proposals would not reduce the number of patients being sent out of Queenstown for treatment.
"I am worried that the changes might result in people genuinely in need being denied free emergency healthcare," she said.
Shelley Dawson said her daughter was one of the few children born in Queenstown, because of concerns with inadequate maternity services.
However, she questioned whether the proposals would mean more funding for Queenstown services.
"Something needs to be done. The staff are stretched and the hospital is underfunded. I would like to know if any more money will be coming in. The hospital needs more funding for resources and staff," she said.
Better emergency services and surgical care were needed because of the huge amount of outdoor adventure tourism activities in the resort.
"Some many injuries happen in this town but people are sent to Invercargill or Dunedin for treatment," she said.
Margaret Dempsey said she was happy that more aged care was included in the proposals.
"It should save old people from having to go to Invercargill and Dunedin," she said.
Queenstown needed more specialist care, she said.
"I have to go to Dunedin for specialist treatment. I should be able to see my specialist without having to travel all that way," she said.
John Sole said he was concerned about the lack of services for elderly people.
He wanted more information from the SDHB about the proposed changes.
"I'd like to know how much it's going to cost. Will we be throwing good money after bad?" he asked.
Jonathan Cloudesley said too many people were being sent outside the district for hospital treatment.
"It's inadequate that for a town our size and population that we have a hospital lacking in facilities and services. It costs too much here and too many people are being sent to Invercargill and Dunedin for treatment," he said.
Wakatipu Health Trust spokeswoman Maria Cole has remained tight-lipped about whether the trust supported the SDHB's proposed changes.
The forum advertisement says the trust has advocated for a fresh strategic plan for the hospital, local governance, an increase in specialist services, improved maternity and aged care, convalescence and greater access to health funding for Queenstown for the past three years.
It has called for public participation in the consultation.
Tomorrow's events will be opened by Mayor Clive Geddes and led by Oamaru Hospital Board chairman George Berry.
The public is invited to make submissions on the SDHB's consultation document Delivering Wakatipu Health Care Services in the Future until April 23.
• Wakatipu Health Trust's forums will be held at the City Impact Church at Frankton from 9.30am to 11.30am and 2pm to 4pm tomorrow.
PROPOSED CHANGES
• Refurbish and add a storey to existing hospital.
• Establish an integrated family healthcare centre as a one-stop-shop for health services.
• More aged-care beds, specialist outpatient clinics, day-case elective surgery and community nursing services.
• Twenty-four-hour general practice services.
• Non-emergency cases no longer to be managed in the emergency department.
• Centre governed by community representatives and providers.
