Cuts a pain
I am writing to express my disgust at the decision by Taranaki Healthcare to cease funding physiotherapy treatment for hospital patients in Stratford.
As a patient of physiotherapist Marie Russell for the past few months, I am personally aware of the benefit of physiotherapy in aiding recovery after surgery.
Six months ago, I underwent a very major back operation in Wellington Hospital. As part of my recovery, my doctor arranged for me to have some physio sessions. Apart from helping ease some of the considerable pain I was in, the sessions meant I could learn the exercises that are important to get myself mobile and back to normal health.
I understand that if patients from Stratford need physiotherapy from now on, they will be placed on a waiting list and if accepted, will have to travel to New Plymouth or Hawera for treatment.
Have the people making the decisions to cut this service ever tried travelling in a car after a major operation, when every bump is agony, even with six pillows around you and going at 80km/h?
For myself, the pain involved in being driven there and back over our bumpy roads, then the effort of making my way from the car park to the physiotherapy department and back, would have eliminated much of the benefit of the treatment.
I was unable to drive for months after my operation, so my husband had to take time off from work every time I had an appointment.
Many of the Central Taranaki patients who are now denied a good local service will have difficulty with transport too.
I am grateful that I was able to have physiotherapy as it has certainly been a valuable part of my rehabilitation.
We in Central Taranaki need physiotherapy close to home, and it is a good service that is being cut.
It will hurt many people in the community who, because they are unwell, are unable to put up a fight, but that doesn't mean they should do it.
I encourage others in our community to contact the DHB about this issue.
- Catherine Bielawski
Stratford Gloria Crossley, Taranaki DHB clinical services manager, responds:
We understand that there might be some concern regarding travel around publicly funded physiotherapy appointments being provided at either Taranaki Base or Hawera Hospital. We wish to assure the community that when a physiotherapy appointment is arranged, staff will discuss patient circumstances and clinical need in deciding the best location to receive treatment. In cases such as the one outlined in this letter to the editor, the clinical need would be carefully assessed as it may be appropriate to provide the physiotherapy treatment in the patient's home.
Taranaki DHB physiotherapy services assesses approximately 8000 patients for a first assessment and approximately 30,000 follow up appointments each year in the province. In Stratford for the last year, 96 patients received physio services in Stratford for their first appointment with around 450 follow-up appointments, with many Central Taranaki patients already receiving their physiotherapy in Hawera or Taranaki Base.
Homes safer
In response to the concerned citizen in last week's Stratford Press and on behalf of the Central Taranaki Safe Community Trust, I thank you for expressing your concerns around the replacement of batteries in the fire alarms, especially for the senior citizens of our community.
The Stratford Community TET Home Safety Project carried out the Smoke Alarm project in 2008, which ensured 2607 homes became safer places to live. Once the project was completed the remaining amount of surplus funds were used to help fund a second round of batteries, but sadly this fund ran out some time ago.
Following the project with such strong relationships having been built between all those involved the next step was the establishment of the Central Taranaki Safe Community Trust. Our "motto" is to make Central Taranaki a safer place to "live, work and play". The Trustees, who are all volunteers and members of our community, would dread to think that any member of our community, including senior citizens, were at risk due to them not being able to fit new batteries, but unfortunately the Trust simply does not have the funding to employ such a person.
I would however take this opportunity to mention that our local Volunteer Fire Brigade, which is one the Trust partners, is willing to fit your smoke alarm batteries and in most cases the devices free of charge to those that can't manage this chore. You can contact them on (06) 765 7542. I would strongly encourage you to take advantage of our trusted and respected fire brigade volunteers. Some companies or individuals advertise they also help to do this service for free but as chairman of the Central Taranaki Safe Community Trust and a community friend, I urge you to be weary of anyone you let into your home. Be cautious and if in doubt ring the local police station and seek advice.
As the subject of smoke alarms has been raised and with winter upon us it's very important to remind everyone to check their devices and please give a thought to senior citizen neighbours/ friends and offer to check their devices. By working together we can all make our community a safer place to live, work and play.
- Danny Bates, Chairman Central Taranaki Safe Community Trust
Praise for resthome
My wish is to bring to attention, via your Stratford Press, how exceedingly kind, helpful and friendly all the carers and staff are at Marire Rest Home.
Their only thoughts and intentions are for everyone else.
In England, it is so very often the opposite. We see far too often that another home has had to be closed due to the dreadful treatment and abuse of residents by carers.
My dear, dear sister spent 12 years at Marire and was so very happy and content there. I visited her every three years and she always was telling me how well looked after and how happy she was. In fact, I became quite envious of her.
They recently began to inform me of a decline in her health and kept me up to date, so I was almost there, but her death beat me by hours.
Since my arrival, they just could not have done more for me. In fact, most sincerely, if the Queen herself had come they could not have done more and I wish to express my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to every one of them, especially Wayne Reed, and also chaplain Lynette who so splendidly arranged the funeral service.
- Patricia Algas-Jones, Dartford, England