Neil Volzke: Compromise keeps physio in Stratford

In April the Taranaki District Health Board reviewed the provider contract with privately owned physiotherapy business Stratford Physiotherapy. This service operates from the Stratford Health Centre.

Notice was given that the contract would be terminated at the end of May and that TDHB funded patients would need to travel to either New Plymouth or Hawera to receive this category of service. The contract provided for up to 100 new referrals and 460 follow-up appointments per year.

As an alternative TDHB also noted that a "mobile" physio was available that if necessary would visit patients in their home to provide physio services.

Stratford residents have been gathering signatures on a petition and voicing concerns that the new arrangements were in fact a cut in service and the travel would make the service difficult to access.

In my dual role as mayor and chairman of Stratford Health Trust I have raised my concerns with TDHB over the withdrawal of this physio service from Stratford Health Centre.

The main concern is the difficulty many patients would experience with travel to New Plymouth or Hawera. Without doubt, this introduces a barrier to accessing this service.

After a number of discussions with TDHB management I am pleased that they have listened and responded positively to the concerns raised.

They have revisited their decision to move the service out of Stratford and instead will now utilise existing TDHB staff to provide the service from the Stratford Health Centre. It is proposed that this will be a fortnightly service.

This means that most new patients will still be seen in Stratford. Urgent and follow-up appointments will be managed on a case by case basis, utilising the mobile physio or in some cases travel would still be necessary.

For most people that will mean they can still have access to TDHB-funded physio in Stratford. While it is not quite the same as what we have at present, nor is it ideal, it is far better than having nothing at all, which is where we were heading. Given the financial constraints of TDHB, I am reasonably happy with the compromise they have offered.