LINDY ANDREWS The Napier Health Centre "does not hold the affections" of the city's people and moving service to another, "friendlier" building is one of the options being considered for its future, says the Hawke's Bay District Health Board. The board-funded physiotherapy service run from the Wellesley Road facility yesterday closed itsdoors for an indeterminate period, prompting mixed reactions from the public. Last month, the health board announced a shortage of physiotherapists would force the temporary closure of the facility, which boasts a gym and $1.1 million hydrotherapy pool. At this stage, the health board was uncertain when the service would resume, chief executive Chris Clarke said from Wellington today, but it remained "100 percent committed to having a health facility in Napier". Recent advertisements calling for expressions of interest in a public/private physiotherapy service at the centre had attracted a number of proposals from private providers. "It's my understanding there has been quite a lot of interest and I'm confident that we will end up with something special for Napier, in terms of a private/public partnership," Mr Clarke said. But Napier woman Dot Carlyle, 67, fears the health board might be tempted to save money by closing the facility altogether. "They closed down our hospital and we have to travel all the way to Hastings. Now they're closing this. Napier always draws the short straw," Mrs Carlyle said. But local man Ray Reilly said the board had no choice. The private sector was much more lucrative for physiotherapists than working in hospitals and conditions were better. "My niece is a physio and there is no contest. Also, Hawke's Bay is a bit isolated for many young people, so it's hard to attract and retain them in the long run," he said. Mr Clarke said an assessment of the health centre and how it would be best utilised was under way. Options included a revamp of the reception area, new signage and a reassessment of all services provided from the centre, renegotiating the lease or moving services to another building. "It is in an ideal location, but it is a large building and is poorly configured. It doesn't hold the affections of people in Napier," he said. "Maybe that is a legacy of closing the old Napier hospital or maybe it is because it has an unusual design and tends to 'lock away' services."
