Shock at nursing clinic closure

Tangimoana residents are outraged by the sudden closure of the town's nursing clinic.

Community members met last night to protest at the loss.

The 24-hour-a-week clinic opened two years ago, avoiding the need for about 120 patients to travel to Palmerston North for basic medical checks and procedures. It closed last week.

The closure, without community consultation, was unjustified, Community Advisory Group members argued at last night's meeting.

Chairman Ashley Gloyn said he felt betrayed by the closure. Volunteers spent three years setting up the clinic.

It didn't take long for them to shoot it down though, CAG member Bethne Smith said.

"Instead of having an ambulance at the top of the hill, they're dropping it to the bottom," she said.

The contract is also up for nurse Gail Hart, who offers preventative care to the community.

"There's a huge risk to their [residents'] health. They're going to end up at A and E filling up hospital beds," she said.

But the locals' shock and anger has taken Manawatu Primary Health Organisation manager Nicky Hart by surprise.

"The contract with the Himatangi Community Trust has finished. We're just reviewing the service there. We've sent out some pamphlets around the community to reassure them it's not closing permanently.

"I don't think there'll be an impact on accessibility."

Patients due for follow-up visits during the review of the service would instead receive visits from the PHO's mobile nurse.

Trust chairman Brian Rosvall said he couldn't comment on the clinic's future.

Tangimoana Progressive Society secretary Tracey Thomsen said the first locals knew of the closure was last Thursday. PHO staff turned up to collect keys, equipment and records the next day.

She said the clinic had encouraged increasing numbers of patients to get the medical care they needed, and the service had attracted "nothing but praise" and had won the trust of locals.

"We will be closely monitoring the soon to be proposed new improved services," she said in a letter to MidCentral District Health Board. A public meeting to discuss the clinic will be held on Monday, at 7.30pm in McKelvie Hall, Kuku St, Tangimoana.

- © Fairfax NZ News