From the end of May locals receiving physiotherapy through the Taranaki District Health Board will need to go to New Plymouth or Hawera for treatment as the DHB is withdrawing its funding for a Central Taranaki service.
"They have just been slowly nibbling away at the service here. People are horrified. Because of the inconvenience of travel, there will be people who cannot bother, or who are unable to get someone to drive them to New Plymouth or Hawera and they will go untreated," says Marie Russell-Moir, who has had a private practice in Stratford for 20 years and has held the TDHB contract for the past five years.
Marie will continue to see ACC-funded patients as well as private patients, but she says this funding cut for local treatment is a severe knock for the local community, especially the elderly.
"I see a lot of patients who have had joint replacements. There is the shuttle bus, but according to its pamphlet patients need to be mobile enough to get on and off the bus. Those with hip replacement are not allowed to drive for six weeks. They will need to find a driver for a long period."
A petition, available at the pharmacies in Stratford and Eltham, by Tuesday morning had around 400 signatories protesting this move by the DHB.
The TDHB's decision was due to cost cutting, but Marie questions if money will indeed be saved.
"I believe the people of Stratford should have been asked."
Stratford District mayor Neil Volzke says the withdrawal of the service is alarming.
It creates a huge barrier around access. That amount of business for a small private practice will bring concern about its viability," he told the council meeting last week.
Deputy mayor Roger Hignett described the move as "squeezing out another service out of this area by the powers that be".
"That is not on."
Gloria Crossley, clinical services manager, says the TDHB endeavours to ensure access to the service is fair and reasonable for both the patients and the efficient running of the service and that they will be able to accommodate all patients through Hawera and Taranaki Base hospitals.
"When a physiotherapy appointment is arranged, staff discusses with the patient the best location for the treatment, considering both patient circumstances and clinical need. Services may be provided in a patient's home if this is identified as the best option for the patient. Taranaki DHB is always looking at cost efficiencies and the physio therapy service will continued to be offered to all people across Taranaki."