Wanganui District Council will urge the Whanganui District Health Board and neighbouring local authorities to join a drive for more funding for health transport services across the region.
The heart of the issue is that increasing numbers of people needing specialist medical services have to travel out of Wanganui and district to get it, mainly at Palmerston North Hospital.
But who is responsible to transport those people remains unresolved and it has got the district council's strategy and policy committee riled up.
As health services continue to be regionalised it means more Wanganui people have to travel to Palmerston North for specialist care. While travel assistance does reimburse some, its rigid application means anyone closer than 80km from Palmerston North does not qualify (It is 72km between the cities).
Marie Gorinski, a council policy analyst, told the committee the transport threshold for Wanganui was "very restrictive" compared to some other districts. "Northland, for example, has free buses, paid for by the ministry."
She said the regionalisation had moved at a pace faster than the region had been able to develop a successful transport option. While there was an increasing need for travel this created financial and access burdens for the more vulnerable of the population.
Whanganui District Health Board does not fund health shuttles but it does fund transport and accommodation - through the travel assistance policy - for patients needing numerous trips under 79km one way.
"Mid Central Health advise that they are a health provider not a transport provider, and that that responsibility lies with local agencies such as the Cancer Society and Age Concern."
But MidCentral's stance copped a serve from councillor Sue Westwood who called it "arrogant".
"I take issue with their policy, especially when you have a split health service. They have taken a very arrogant position and it upsets me," Mrs Westwood said.
"Wanganui has an ageing and poorer population and there is greater need for assistance in this area.
"The minister says it's not his problem yet the DHBs are cash-strapped. But it's the arbitrary 80km threshold which is the issue. Every New Zealander is entitled to access to care and it should not be a matter of where you live," she said.
Ms Gorinski said the Ministry of Health has made it plain those responsibilities lie with individual DHBs.
Whanganui MP Chester Borrows had written to the Health Minister Tony Ryall seeking transport assistance.
Mr Ryall said that some DHBs adopted different policies and did provide help for those people travelling further than 80km for treatment but "such discretion is up the individual DHBs".
The committee is recommending the council work with other local and regional authorities to increase funding for health transport services and it suggests the WDHB be asked to campaign for more Government funding for services in the Wanganui region.
It will also make a submission to Horizon Regional Council's regional transport plan.